Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to the Government’s re-announcement on GP extended opening hours, said:

“People know from their own experience that it has got much harder to get a GP appointment under David Cameron.

“He has left people ringing surgeries early in the morning only to be told there is nothing is available for days. This is because, within weeks of taking office, he removed Labour’s guarantee of an appointment within 48 hours. David Cameron also cut the money for later opening hours and now hundreds of surgeries are closing earlier.

“The big problem with this new plan is that it won’t benefit millions of people. For the vast majority who are outside of this scheme, things will carry on getting worse and they are being told to expect to wait a week for a GP appointment. No wonder more and more people are turning to A&E, which has just had its worse year in a decade.

“This is a mess of David Cameron’s making. He has made it harder for millions of people to see a GP and they are getting fed up with his spin. It explains why they simply don’t trust him with the NHS.”