Jeremy Hunt jousts with Labour shadow over children's A&E visit
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Version 0 of 1. Jeremy Hunt has been accused of contradicting official government advice for taking his children to A&E at the weekend rather than waiting to see a GP. The health secretary told the Commons he visited an accident and emergency department as he “didn’t want to wait” for the GP surgery to reopen. He added he believes it needs to be recognised that society is changing, with people not always knowing whether the care they need is urgent or an emergency. But shadow health secretary Andy Burnham later wrote to Mr Hunt about his “apparent contradiction” of official Government advice. The Labour front-bencher claimed it was “highly problematic” for Mr Hunt to suggest it is acceptable for people to “bypass GPs and go straight to A&E” - particularly given the pressure on A&E departments. NHS advice points people towards walk-in centres, minor injuries units and NHS 111 before A&E if the situation is not an immediate emergency or if an illness is non-life-threatening, Mr Burnham added. The pair continued to debate the issue on Twitter with Mr Hunt insisting A&E provides a trusted service for parents with an unwell child needing medical attention. In his reply, Mr Burnham claimed the “NHS would collapse” if all unwell people went to A&E, adding it was “irresponsible” for the Health Secretary to “continue to contradict official advice”. Prime Minister David Cameron has offered to extend access to GPs - seven days a week for every NHS patient in England - should the Tories win the general election. Speaking during health questions, Conservative Lorraine Fullbrook (South Ribble) told Mr Hunt: “Many people in South Ribble will be able to see their GPs in the evenings and at weekends thanks to a locally led initiative by Chorley and South Ribble CCG and Preston CCG to extend GP surgery opening hours this winter. “Do you agree that initiatives such as this, which will give greater flexibility to patients and alleviate pressures on other areas of the NHS - particularly A&E - is exactly what is needed in the busy winter months?” Mr Hunt replied: “I do agree with you. “I’ve taken my own children to an A&E department at the weekend precisely because I didn’t want to wait until later on to take them to see a GP and I think we have to recognise that society is changing and people don’t always know whether the care that they need is urgent or whether it is an emergency, and making GPs available at weekends will relieve a lot of pressure in A&E departments.” In his letter to the Health Secretary, Mr Burnham said: “While I sympathise with the situation in which you found yourself, and have no wish to inquire into your family circumstances, it is your statement that needs to be challenged. “It appears to be at odds with long-standing advice to the public and, in advance of a potentially difficult winter in the NHS, could add pressure to already overstretched A&E services.” He went on: “Your statement in the House implies that it is acceptable for the public to use A&E on an on-demand basis or as a substitute for GP services.“You will be aware that this is in contradiction with the official advice on NHS choices.” In exchanges on Twitter, Mr Hunt told Mr Burnham: “If parents have an unwell child needing medical attention, A&E provides a trusted service.” Mr Burnham, a former health secretary, replied: “If all ’unwell’ people went to A&E, £NHS would collapse. Surprised you continue to contradict official advice. Irresponsible.” Asked whether Mr Cameron would support Mr Hunt’s choice to take his children to A&E rather than wait for a GP, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters at a regular media briefing: “I’m not sure the Secretary of State for Health was giving advice. “He was describing a challenge that I think many people up and down the country will recognise in terms of access to GPs. “It is not uniform across the country, but there are certainly parts of the country where there is a challenge around access to GPs and that has a knock-on consequence for A&E centres. “That is perfectly understandable, because people - particularly those with young children - will, of course, want to see a doctor as quickly as possible. “He was describing that situation before going on to say what the Government is doing in terms of increasing access to GP services for people as a whole.” |