Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to the Royal College of Surgeons’ report on operation rationing and a postcode lottery in the NHS, said:

“Labour always warned that David Cameron’s re-organisation would be an attack on the ‘N’ in ‘NHS’ and lead to a postcode lottery running riot. This is precisely what has happened.

“Patients should not be waiting in pain and discomfort for operations that are freely available elsewhere.

“Ministers promised to rule out arbitrary rationing and they can’t run from this promise anymore.”