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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Jeremy Hunt warns it will be 'tough' for hospitals to meet A&E time targets | Jeremy Hunt warns it will be 'tough' for hospitals to meet A&E time targets |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The health secretary has warned it would be "very, very tough" for hospitals to meet accident and emergency waiting time targets this winter in spite of £500m additional funding. | The health secretary has warned it would be "very, very tough" for hospitals to meet accident and emergency waiting time targets this winter in spite of £500m additional funding. |
| Jeremy Hunt said he hoped hospitals would still meet their targets. "We can get through this winter. It is entirely possible to meet A&E targets, and I am determined we should," he told Sky News. "A lot of things are happening to give support to the front line. But that's not to say we are not worried about it, because it is going to be very tough, and we understand that." | Jeremy Hunt said he hoped hospitals would still meet their targets. "We can get through this winter. It is entirely possible to meet A&E targets, and I am determined we should," he told Sky News. "A lot of things are happening to give support to the front line. But that's not to say we are not worried about it, because it is going to be very tough, and we understand that." |
| Hunt said he was determined to ensure hospitals met targets and was taking action to support front line services facing unprecedented patient numbers. | Hunt said he was determined to ensure hospitals met targets and was taking action to support front line services facing unprecedented patient numbers. |
| He spoke as a poll − commissioned by the channel to coincide with a weekend of live coverage from an A&E unit in Nottingham − found two thirds of voters believe there is a crisis and patients are being put at risk. | He spoke as a poll − commissioned by the channel to coincide with a weekend of live coverage from an A&E unit in Nottingham − found two thirds of voters believe there is a crisis and patients are being put at risk. |
| The survey by Survation found 65% blamed government cuts for any staff shortages and poor levels of care − with 75% saying doctors and nurses were doing their best while being overworked. | The survey by Survation found 65% blamed government cuts for any staff shortages and poor levels of care − with 75% saying doctors and nurses were doing their best while being overworked. |
| But 65% said consultants should be forced to work weekends and nights to ease the crisis − with 43% backing pay cuts for any who refuse. | But 65% said consultants should be forced to work weekends and nights to ease the crisis − with 43% backing pay cuts for any who refuse. |
| There was strong support (72%) for forcing people to pay extra for the treatment of drink or drug related injuries and 90% said cash should be saved by stopping NHS-funded breast enlargements and tattoo removals. | There was strong support (72%) for forcing people to pay extra for the treatment of drink or drug related injuries and 90% said cash should be saved by stopping NHS-funded breast enlargements and tattoo removals. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron announced the two-year funding boost in August − which includes £15m for the troubled 111 phone service. | Prime Minister David Cameron announced the two-year funding boost in August − which includes £15m for the troubled 111 phone service. |
| The emergency care system has come under intense pressure, partly due to a rise in the number of people attending A&E. Over one million more people attend A&E than three years ago. | The emergency care system has come under intense pressure, partly due to a rise in the number of people attending A&E. Over one million more people attend A&E than three years ago. |
| Some experts have blamed issues in primary care, saying patients feel they have nowhere to turn once GP surgeries are closed. | Some experts have blamed issues in primary care, saying patients feel they have nowhere to turn once GP surgeries are closed. |
| Major problems with the new 111 service for non-urgent care are also thought to have impacted on A&E. | Major problems with the new 111 service for non-urgent care are also thought to have impacted on A&E. |
| In the first quarter of this year, the NHS also missed its target to see A&E patients within four hours. | In the first quarter of this year, the NHS also missed its target to see A&E patients within four hours. |
| More than 300,000 patients waited longer than they should have − a 39% rise on the previous year. | More than 300,000 patients waited longer than they should have − a 39% rise on the previous year. |
| The new funding is aimed at A&E departments identified as being under the most pressure and will be targeted at "pinch points" in local services. | The new funding is aimed at A&E departments identified as being under the most pressure and will be targeted at "pinch points" in local services. |
| Hospitals have already put forward proposals aimed at improving how the service works, including taking into account how other services feed into it. | Hospitals have already put forward proposals aimed at improving how the service works, including taking into account how other services feed into it. |
| One way of relieving pressure could be to minimise A&E attendances and hospital admissions from care homes by appointing hospital specialists in charge of joining up services for the elderly. | One way of relieving pressure could be to minimise A&E attendances and hospital admissions from care homes by appointing hospital specialists in charge of joining up services for the elderly. |
| Other ideas include increasing the hours of operation at NHS walk-in centres and extending pharmacy services to keep people out of hospital. | Other ideas include increasing the hours of operation at NHS walk-in centres and extending pharmacy services to keep people out of hospital. |
| Consultants may also be called upon to review patients arriving by ambulance at A&E so that a senior level decision is taken on what care is needed at the earliest opportunity. | Consultants may also be called upon to review patients arriving by ambulance at A&E so that a senior level decision is taken on what care is needed at the earliest opportunity. |
| The national director for acute episodes of care for NHS England, Professor Keith Willett, told Sky: "Safety is the priority. | The national director for acute episodes of care for NHS England, Professor Keith Willett, told Sky: "Safety is the priority. |
| "We will do everything we can to maximise the way patients receive their care as quickly and optimally as possible. | "We will do everything we can to maximise the way patients receive their care as quickly and optimally as possible. |
| "But it is a pressured system and we have to work within the envelope we have and the skills and staff we have." | "But it is a pressured system and we have to work within the envelope we have and the skills and staff we have." |
| Survation polled 1,106 adults between 2-3 September. | Survation polled 1,106 adults between 2-3 September. |