Liz Kendall MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister,responding to Jeremy Hunt’s speech on NHS waiting times, said:

“David Cameron promised to protect patient care, but instead he has lost control of waiting times.

“The number of people waiting more than 18 weeks for their treatment has increased by 50 per cent since 2010, and the cancer waiting time target has been missed for the first time ever.

“The Tories say they don’t want anyone waiting more than a year for their treatment when they should be guaranteeing nobody waits more than 18 weeks. The truth is that the Tories have mismanaged the NHS - and it is patients who are paying the price.”