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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Political row deepens over A&E problems | Political row deepens over A&E problems |
| (4 months later) | |
| The government has "betrayed patients", Labour leader Ed Miliband says, as the political row over the problems facing A&E units deepens. | The government has "betrayed patients", Labour leader Ed Miliband says, as the political row over the problems facing A&E units deepens. |
| Data for the last three months showed waiting times in England had dropped to their worst levels for a decade. | Data for the last three months showed waiting times in England had dropped to their worst levels for a decade. |
| In the first prime minister's questions of 2015, Mr Miliband said the government's policies were the cause. | In the first prime minister's questions of 2015, Mr Miliband said the government's policies were the cause. |
| But David Cameron hit back saying Labour was using the NHS as a "political football". | But David Cameron hit back saying Labour was using the NHS as a "political football". |
| The row surfaced as a number of trusts have declared major incidents in recent days, with cases emerging of patients being treated in corridors and ambulances queuing outside A&E. | The row surfaced as a number of trusts have declared major incidents in recent days, with cases emerging of patients being treated in corridors and ambulances queuing outside A&E. |
| Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge is the latest big hospital to have declared a major incident. | Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge is the latest big hospital to have declared a major incident. |
| Such a move triggers the implementation of extra measures, including calling in off-rota staff and cancelling non-emergency care such as routine operations. | Such a move triggers the implementation of extra measures, including calling in off-rota staff and cancelling non-emergency care such as routine operations. |
| Dr Keith McNeil, chief executive of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said the hospital had been under "extreme pressure" since New Year's Eve. | Dr Keith McNeil, chief executive of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said the hospital had been under "extreme pressure" since New Year's Eve. |
| "We have declared a major incident... due to unprecedented levels of demand on our services, with especially high numbers of frail, elderly patients, combined with a record level of patients whose medical care is finished and whose discharge is delayed." | "We have declared a major incident... due to unprecedented levels of demand on our services, with especially high numbers of frail, elderly patients, combined with a record level of patients whose medical care is finished and whose discharge is delayed." |
| The hospital had nearly 200 beds occupied by patients who were ready for discharged - a fifth of the total. | The hospital had nearly 200 beds occupied by patients who were ready for discharged - a fifth of the total. |
| Research by the BBC has found this is not an isolated problem. BBC News contacted 64 NHS trusts around the UK on Wednesday to ask about these delays. | Research by the BBC has found this is not an isolated problem. BBC News contacted 64 NHS trusts around the UK on Wednesday to ask about these delays. |
| Of the 29 trusts who responded, all but one had problems with 1,584 beds in total taken up by patients who were ready to go home. | Of the 29 trusts who responded, all but one had problems with 1,584 beds in total taken up by patients who were ready to go home. |
| These delays happen when there is not support in the community from either social care teams or health services to care for those patients who need help. | These delays happen when there is not support in the community from either social care teams or health services to care for those patients who need help. |
| Mr Miliband told the prime minister in the House of Commons: "The pressures on A&E are not just happening on your watch, but are a direct result of the decisions you have taken." | Mr Miliband told the prime minister in the House of Commons: "The pressures on A&E are not just happening on your watch, but are a direct result of the decisions you have taken." |
| "He asked people to trust him on the NHS and he has betrayed that trust." | "He asked people to trust him on the NHS and he has betrayed that trust." |
| Mr Miliband went on to cite steps such as the closure of walk-in centres, cuts to social care and the "damaging" reorganisation that took place in the early years of this Parliament. | Mr Miliband went on to cite steps such as the closure of walk-in centres, cuts to social care and the "damaging" reorganisation that took place in the early years of this Parliament. |
| Earlier shadow health secretary Andy Burnham had called for an urgent summit on how to alleviate pressure on A&E services in English hospitals. | Earlier shadow health secretary Andy Burnham had called for an urgent summit on how to alleviate pressure on A&E services in English hospitals. |
| But Mr Cameron hit back, saying the government had increased spending on the NHS, which had led to more doctors and nurses on wards. | But Mr Cameron hit back, saying the government had increased spending on the NHS, which had led to more doctors and nurses on wards. |
| He said it was interesting that Labour had "no solutions to put forward". | He said it was interesting that Labour had "no solutions to put forward". |
| "That only says to me while we are interested in improving the NHS, you simply want to use it as a political football," he added. | "That only says to me while we are interested in improving the NHS, you simply want to use it as a political football," he added. |
| He also pointed out waiting times were even worse in Labour-controlled Wales. | He also pointed out waiting times were even worse in Labour-controlled Wales. |
| The debate happened just a day after figures were released by NHS England showing that the target four-hour waiting time target had been missed during the October to December quarter. | The debate happened just a day after figures were released by NHS England showing that the target four-hour waiting time target had been missed during the October to December quarter. |
| Just 92.6% of patients were seen in four hours - below the 95% target. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are also missing their targets. | Just 92.6% of patients were seen in four hours - below the 95% target. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are also missing their targets. |
| Have you recently attended your local A&E department? What was your experience? Are you an NHS employee? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with any information. Please leave a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. | Have you recently attended your local A&E department? What was your experience? Are you an NHS employee? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with any information. Please leave a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. |