Endless winter for the NHS as Tory cuts cause chaos for patients – Jonathan Ashworth

The
latest NHS situation reports for A&E performance have been published today
and show Theresa May’s winter crisis stretching into spring.

·         
Emergency
admissions in the week ending 12 March were the highest they have been so far
this winter and A&E attendances in the week ending 12 March were the
highest since December.

·         
In the week ending 12 March, there were
19 temporary diverts from one A&E to another to provide temporary respite.
Overall, there have been around 84 per cent more diverts this winter than last
winter.

·         
In
the week ending 12 March, 34 different trusts reported serious operational
pressures at some point. On average, 20 trusts each day reported serious
operational pressures.

·         
Last week, 13 trusts had average bed
occupancy over 99 per cent – up from 12 in the previous week.

Jonathan
Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, said:

“Standards
for NHS patients have collapsed this winter because Theresa May just hasn’t
given the health service the resources and the priority it needs.

“It
beggars belief that such pressure is still being seen on A&E after months
of crisis – it is a sign of a wider system creaking under the strain of Tory
neglect.

“The
Prime Minister needs to get a grip and make clear what action she’s going to
take so that patients and their families never have to suffer a winter like
this ever again.”