Burnham asks Government to release A&E figures

Andy Burnham, Shadow Health Secretary is asking Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to release data that will allow the public to see how A&E departments cope over the Christmas and New Year period.

This comes after news that from this Friday NHS England will stop publishing weekly performance figures for three weeks (although they can still be obtained from hospital trusts).

The data usually published includes the number of patients attending A&E departments, the numbers waiting too long to be seen; numbers kept on trolleys up to and over 12 hours, and cancelled operations.

Burnham explained why Labour were pressing for these figures to be released:

“Things are getting worse, but soon we won’t know how much worse. The Government hasn’t yet said how it plans to turn this situation around – Ministers should make a statement to Parliament before Christmas.

“It is highly unsatisfactory to have this news blackout over the crucial Christmas period. People can’t be kept in the dark.

“The next three weeks’ figures will show whether major A&Es have missed the four hour target for every single week of 2014. A&Es have been trapped in a downward spiral by David Cameron’s decision to abolish guaranteed GP appointments and undermine social care.

“Jeremy Hunt says he believes in transparency. He needs to be transparent when the NHS is entering the most difficult period in years.”