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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.281.0

I am aware that there have been particular pressures at Northwick Park hospital, but I am also aware that a plan is in place in north-west London to have weekend opening of GP surgeries to improve out-of-hospital provision. The pressures that are faced there are like those in the rest of the country—very severe. We are doing everything we can to support the hospitals in that area with our winter pressures plans.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I am aware that there have been particular pressures at Northwick Park hospital, but I am also aware that a plan is in place in north-west London to have weekend opening of GP surgeries to improve out-of-hospital provision. The pressures that are faced there are like those in the rest of the country—very severe. We are doing everything we can to support the hospitals in that area with our winter pressures plans.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.281.1

The Secretary of State spoke about the algorithms used by 111 call handlers. Does he appreciate that a frightened mother with a sick child is not really interested in algorithms? What she wants to know is that her child can get the medical help that they need promptly. He has told the House that he has been having meetings on this winter crisis since March. Is he not a little bit embarrassed that we now have people queuing to see their GPs first thing in the morning, ambulances queuing outside hospitals, people being treated in tents outside hospitals, and old people staying in hospital longer than they need to because there is a lack of funding and no proper co-ordination between health and social care?

Diane Abbott

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

The Secretary of State spoke about the algorithms used by 111 call handlers. Does he appreciate that a frightened mother with a sick child is not really interested in algorithms? What she wants to know is that her child can get the medical help that they need promptly. He has told the House that he has been having meetings on this winter crisis since March. Is he not a little bit embarrassed that we now have people queuing to see their GPs first thing in the morning, ambulances queuing outside hospitals, people being treated in tents outside hospitals, and old people staying in hospital longer than they need to because there is a lack of funding and no proper co-ordination between health and social care?

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.281.2

Of course I regret any individual incidents where people do not get the care they need promptly. The hon. Lady will know that the solutions to such problems are not always things that can be done overnight. If she looks at the record of joined-up care over the past few years, she will see that this is the first Government to encourage 150 local authority areas to sit down with their local NHS and jointly plan care for the most vulnerable people in the social care system. That is a very big step forward. We are also doing nearly 1 million more operations every year across the NHS. In accident and emergency, the number of people being seen within four hours has gone up by nearly three quarters of a million since the start of this Parliament. That is real progress, but of course there are long-term issues, and we will focus on those as well.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Of course I regret any individual incidents where people do not get the care they need promptly. The hon. Lady will know that the solutions to such problems are not always things that can be done overnight. If she looks at the record of joined-up care over the past few years, she will see that this is the first Government to encourage 150 local authority areas to sit down with their local NHS and jointly plan care for the most vulnerable people in the social care system. That is a very big step forward. We are also doing nearly 1 million more operations every year across the NHS. In accident and emergency, the number of people being seen within four hours has gone up by nearly three quarters of a million since the start of this Parliament. That is real progress, but of course there are long-term issues, and we will focus on those as well.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.281.3

I congratulate Goole hospital on hitting its target 99.7% of time, and the trust as a whole on hitting its target 93% of the time. I spent my Christmas volunteering in the NHS at A and E and with the ambulance service. Staff repeatedly told me that as first responders what they see are more old and frail people needing to be admitted to hospital. That situation was not helped by 50,000 hospital beds being cut by the previous Government. One way of dealing with the problems would be to move to a community paramedicine model and to use the skills of our ambulance services more. I encourage the Secretary of State to ensure that NHS England is seriously looking at that option.

Andrew Percy

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I congratulate Goole hospital on hitting its target 99.7% of time, and the trust as a whole on hitting its target 93% of the time. I spent my Christmas volunteering in the NHS at A and E and with the ambulance service. Staff repeatedly told me that as first responders what they see are more old and frail people needing to be admitted to hospital. That situation was not helped by 50,000 hospital beds being cut by the previous Government. One way of dealing with the problems would be to move to a community paramedicine model and to use the skills of our ambulance services more. I encourage the Secretary of State to ensure that NHS England is seriously looking at that option.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.281.4

May I congratulate my hon. Friend on the shining example he gives to everyone in this House by being a first responder? I do agree that one thing that we could do in the next year is to integrate better what happens in the ambulance services, out-of-hours GP services and 111. Individually, they are all doing a good job, but they could do a much better job if what they did was integrated.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

May I congratulate my hon. Friend on the shining example he gives to everyone in this House by being a first responder? I do agree that one thing that we could do in the next year is to integrate better what happens in the ambulance services, out-of-hours GP services and 111. Individually, they are all doing a good job, but they could do a much better job if what they did was integrated.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.281.5

Facts are important in this debate. There is now good evidence to show that overcrowding in emergency departments increases mortality and length of stay. Will the Secretary of State ensure that the figures for hospitals are available in the House of Commons on a monthly basis, so that we can correlate spikes following emergencies with what happens to mortality rates? If mortalities increase, the problem is even more serious than we think it is.

Gisela Stuart

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Facts are important in this debate. There is now good evidence to show that overcrowding in emergency departments increases mortality and length of stay. Will the Secretary of State ensure that the figures for hospitals are available in the House of Commons on a monthly basis, so that we can correlate spikes following emergencies with what happens to mortality rates? If mortalities increase, the problem is even more serious than we think it is.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.282.0

I agree with the hon. Lady. It is critical that we look at the data carefully. I will see whether the data on mortality rates are available on a monthly basis. I will be as interested as she is to see it.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I agree with the hon. Lady. It is critical that we look at the data carefully. I will see whether the data on mortality rates are available on a monthly basis. I will be as interested as she is to see it.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.282.1

I have just been visiting a much-loved elderly relative in hospital and I have seen what a wonderful job our nurses are doing and the pressure that they are under, but may I tell the Secretary of State that Huddersfield and Calderdale used to have an amazingly good partnership of people in the health service working together. The antagonism now between trusts and commissioning services has destroyed that partnership. All we have now is tension and stress. We no longer have a partnership delivering health care in our country.

Barry Sheerman

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I have just been visiting a much-loved elderly relative in hospital and I have seen what a wonderful job our nurses are doing and the pressure that they are under, but may I tell the Secretary of State that Huddersfield and Calderdale used to have an amazingly good partnership of people in the health service working together. The antagonism now between trusts and commissioning services has destroyed that partnership. All we have now is tension and stress. We no longer have a partnership delivering health care in our country.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.282.2

I agree with the hon. Gentleman about the hard work of the doctors and nurses at his local trust, but the feedback I get from the front line is of closer partnership working than has ever happened before, with the local authorities and the local NHS sitting down together planning what they will do for the most vulnerable older people through the better care fund. I want to encourage that everywhere I can.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I agree with the hon. Gentleman about the hard work of the doctors and nurses at his local trust, but the feedback I get from the front line is of closer partnership working than has ever happened before, with the local authorities and the local NHS sitting down together planning what they will do for the most vulnerable older people through the better care fund. I want to encourage that everywhere I can.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.282.3

I join the Secretary of State in praising Croydon University hospital staff who have been working their socks off in recent days, but is he aware that CUH has a recently modernised subsidiary in Purley with a minor injuries unit, which is open only in the afternoons, and an under-used X-ray department? Will he explore with Croydon commissioning group whether those facilities can be used full time, because that would take the load off the A and E department at Croydon University hospital?

Richard Ottaway

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I join the Secretary of State in praising Croydon University hospital staff who have been working their socks off in recent days, but is he aware that CUH has a recently modernised subsidiary in Purley with a minor injuries unit, which is open only in the afternoons, and an under-used X-ray department? Will he explore with Croydon commissioning group whether those facilities can be used full time, because that would take the load off the A and E department at Croydon University hospital?

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.282.4

I am happy to explore that. All these suggestions need to be considered very carefully. That trust has had 40 extra doctors and nearly 300 extra nurses and £4.5 million to help with its winter pressures this year. Perhaps some of that money could be used for that purpose. I am happy to look into it.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I am happy to explore that. All these suggestions need to be considered very carefully. That trust has had 40 extra doctors and nearly 300 extra nurses and £4.5 million to help with its winter pressures this year. Perhaps some of that money could be used for that purpose. I am happy to look into it.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.282.5

As the Minister who introduced the precursor A and E target, may I say that the Secretary of State was right to continue with the target? Making the target work was dependent on NHS Direct, delayed discharges, the integration of social care, and targets in the rest of the hospital, particularly on cancer. He has demolished that whole system. Will he now apologise for the absence of those targets, the problems in delayed discharge and the scrapping of NHS Direct?

David Lammy

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

As the Minister who introduced the precursor A and E target, may I say that the Secretary of State was right to continue with the target? Making the target work was dependent on NHS Direct, delayed discharges, the integration of social care, and targets in the rest of the hospital, particularly on cancer. He has demolished that whole system. Will he now apologise for the absence of those targets, the problems in delayed discharge and the scrapping of NHS Direct?

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.282.6

I am afraid that what the right hon. Gentleman says is simply not correct. We have continued with key operational targets. A number of them are under pressure, but when we look at each of them we see that the reason is that the NHS is treating more people than ever before but demand is outstripping supply. For example, nearly half a million more people visited A and E in the most recent quarter than in the last quarter of the previous Labour Government, and we have 1,000 more doctors in our A and E departments. That tells us that, along with short-term help with these pressures we need a long-term solution, which is what this Government are committed to.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I am afraid that what the right hon. Gentleman says is simply not correct. We have continued with key operational targets. A number of them are under pressure, but when we look at each of them we see that the reason is that the NHS is treating more people than ever before but demand is outstripping supply. For example, nearly half a million more people visited A and E in the most recent quarter than in the last quarter of the previous Labour Government, and we have 1,000 more doctors in our A and E departments. That tells us that, along with short-term help with these pressures we need a long-term solution, which is what this Government are committed to.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.283.0

This is a serious and complex issue, and one of the factors causing it is that many seriously ill patients cannot be admitted to acute hospital wards because there are insufficient beds. In the light of that, I draw the Secretary of State’s attention to an NHS Confederation report from May 2006, “Why we need fewer hospital beds”. I cautioned at the time that it would be unwise to pursue such a policy without first front-loading primary and social care. Will he look at enhancing acute hospital beds until primary and social care have the capacity to help out the acute sector?

Andrew George

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

This is a serious and complex issue, and one of the factors causing it is that many seriously ill patients cannot be admitted to acute hospital wards because there are insufficient beds. In the light of that, I draw the Secretary of State’s attention to an NHS Confederation report from May 2006, “Why we need fewer hospital beds”. I cautioned at the time that it would be unwise to pursue such a policy without first front-loading primary and social care. Will he look at enhancing acute hospital beds until primary and social care have the capacity to help out the acute sector?

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.283.1

The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. In fact, I was talking with someone senior at the Royal Cornwall hospital on Monday about the particular pressures there. Indeed, some of the funding that we allocated to the NHS in the autumn statement for next year is designed to do precisely that; to allow hospitals to maintain bed capacity while we ramp up facilities in community and primary care. It is very important to get the timing absolutely right.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. In fact, I was talking with someone senior at the Royal Cornwall hospital on Monday about the particular pressures there. Indeed, some of the funding that we allocated to the NHS in the autumn statement for next year is designed to do precisely that; to allow hospitals to maintain bed capacity while we ramp up facilities in community and primary care. It is very important to get the timing absolutely right.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.283.2

Yesterday the emergency department at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre faced such intense pressure that the trust was forced to enact its internal incident plan and cancel planned operations and out-patient clinics. Higher than expected admissions and delays in discharging patients who are well enough to leave hospital have been creating problems for many months. How can we resolve what is now a crisis if the Secretary of State will not even acknowledge that his Government’s deep cuts to social care are undermining the efforts of our dedicated NHS and social care staff?

Lilian Greenwood

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Yesterday the emergency department at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre faced such intense pressure that the trust was forced to enact its internal incident plan and cancel planned operations and out-patient clinics. Higher than expected admissions and delays in discharging patients who are well enough to leave hospital have been creating problems for many months. How can we resolve what is now a crisis if the Secretary of State will not even acknowledge that his Government’s deep cuts to social care are undermining the efforts of our dedicated NHS and social care staff?

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.283.3

We are doing an enormous amount to support social care. Some £3.9 billion of NHS funds has been given to the social care system over this Parliament, and we have strongly encouraged local authorities to ensure that any savings they have to make are done through efficiency savings, not cuts to front-line services. The hon. Lady’s local hospital has received £11 million in funding to help it through the winter. We are doing a huge amount to support the NHS through a difficult period, and she should support those efforts.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

We are doing an enormous amount to support social care. Some £3.9 billion of NHS funds has been given to the social care system over this Parliament, and we have strongly encouraged local authorities to ensure that any savings they have to make are done through efficiency savings, not cuts to front-line services. The hon. Lady’s local hospital has received £11 million in funding to help it through the winter. We are doing a huge amount to support the NHS through a difficult period, and she should support those efforts.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.283.4

It is obviously important that those who need to be treated in A and E are treated there and that those who do not go to those parts of the NHS where they can be treated best. Does my right hon. Friend agree, therefore, that the initiatives taken by clinical commissioners in Oxfordshire where, for example, they are trying to triage patients essentially at the door of A and E so that those who need to go in can do so and those who need primary care get it, will help reduce pressures on A and E and ensure that people are treated in the right part of the NHS?

Tony Baldry

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

It is obviously important that those who need to be treated in A and E are treated there and that those who do not go to those parts of the NHS where they can be treated best. Does my right hon. Friend agree, therefore, that the initiatives taken by clinical commissioners in Oxfordshire where, for example, they are trying to triage patients essentially at the door of A and E so that those who need to go in can do so and those who need primary care get it, will help reduce pressures on A and E and ensure that people are treated in the right part of the NHS?

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.284.0

Those are exactly the kinds of initiatives that can make a big difference—indeed, they are recommended by the College of Emergency Medicine. Of course, the long-term solution is to ensure that people are better looked after at home so that they do not need to end up at the door of a hospital. That is why more proactive care by GPs—we plan to recruit 5,000 more GPs over the next five years—should mean that that becomes less of a pressure point.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Those are exactly the kinds of initiatives that can make a big difference—indeed, they are recommended by the College of Emergency Medicine. Of course, the long-term solution is to ensure that people are better looked after at home so that they do not need to end up at the door of a hospital. That is why more proactive care by GPs—we plan to recruit 5,000 more GPs over the next five years—should mean that that becomes less of a pressure point.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.284.1

The Royal Bolton hospital in my constituency yesterday declared a major incident. As of 1 pm yesterday, there were 53 people in the A and E department, 15 waiting for a bed, some for more than 12 hours, and a number of non-urgent operations were cancelled. I first want to thank the hospital for all its hard work, because there have been problems for the past few weeks. I would like the Secretary of State to deal with the crisis by immediately reopening walk-in centres, because their closure is the reason so many people are going to A and E, and have proper funding given to local authorities so that they can put in place a proper health and social care budget for the elderly and vulnerable.

Yasmin Qureshi

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

The Royal Bolton hospital in my constituency yesterday declared a major incident. As of 1 pm yesterday, there were 53 people in the A and E department, 15 waiting for a bed, some for more than 12 hours, and a number of non-urgent operations were cancelled. I first want to thank the hospital for all its hard work, because there have been problems for the past few weeks. I would like the Secretary of State to deal with the crisis by immediately reopening walk-in centres, because their closure is the reason so many people are going to A and E, and have proper funding given to local authorities so that they can put in place a proper health and social care budget for the elderly and vulnerable.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.284.2

There have indeed been pressures at the Royal Bolton hospital, particularly in relation to bed capacity and intensive care unit capacity. All patients on the wards have been reviewed and discharges have been created—the plan was to discharge between 30 and 50 patients before the end of yesterday. We are doing a lot to support the hospital. It has been given £3 million in winter money, £350,000 to create extra bed capacity and £100,000 for extra A and E staff.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

There have indeed been pressures at the Royal Bolton hospital, particularly in relation to bed capacity and intensive care unit capacity. All patients on the wards have been reviewed and discharges have been created—the plan was to discharge between 30 and 50 patients before the end of yesterday. We are doing a lot to support the hospital. It has been given £3 million in winter money, £350,000 to create extra bed capacity and £100,000 for extra A and E staff.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.284.3

rose—

Several hon. Members

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

rose—

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.284.4

Order. A very large number of hon. and right hon. Members are still seeking to catch my eye. As always, I am keen to accommodate as many as possible, but I simply point out to the House that there is a statement to follow by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and other business. I therefore appeal to the House to help me to help individual Members. That is to say, prolonged statements prior to questions are undesirable. Pithy and succinct questions are the order of the day, in which important exercise I think we can be led by an illustrious parliamentarian, Mr Philip Hollobone.

Mr Speaker

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Order. A very large number of hon. and right hon. Members are still seeking to catch my eye. As always, I am keen to accommodate as many as possible, but I simply point out to the House that there is a statement to follow by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and other business. I therefore appeal to the House to help me to help individual Members. That is to say, prolonged statements prior to questions are undesirable. Pithy and succinct questions are the order of the day, in which important exercise I think we can be led by an illustrious parliamentarian, Mr Philip Hollobone.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.284.5

Kettering general hospital is experiencing its busiest winter on record. The three hon. Members for north Northamptonshire, the hon. Member for Corby (Andy Sawford), my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr Bone) and myself for Kettering, are working together to attract extra investment into our A and E. When we go to see the Secretary of State’s colleague, the hospitals Minister, next week, will he encourage the Minister to receive us warmly and favourably?

Philip Hollobone

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Kettering general hospital is experiencing its busiest winter on record. The three hon. Members for north Northamptonshire, the hon. Member for Corby (Andy Sawford), my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr Bone) and myself for Kettering, are working together to attract extra investment into our A and E. When we go to see the Secretary of State’s colleague, the hospitals Minister, next week, will he encourage the Minister to receive us warmly and favourably?

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.284.6

I think that my hon. Friend should always be able to count on being received warmly and favourably. There are particular pressures in Northamptonshire. I am planning to have a conversation with the chief executive of Northamptonshire county council in the next week to see whether there is anything more than can be done to facilitate discharges and relieve the pressure at Kettering.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I think that my hon. Friend should always be able to count on being received warmly and favourably. There are particular pressures in Northamptonshire. I am planning to have a conversation with the chief executive of Northamptonshire county council in the next week to see whether there is anything more than can be done to facilitate discharges and relieve the pressure at Kettering.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.285.0

I greatly welcome the £13.4 million of investment recently signed off for Medway hospital’s A and E department. Does the Secretary of State also understand the hospital’s need for a further £20 million of capital for medical wards around the A and E department to support integrated care and improve the throughput of patients to assist in turning around Medway hospital?

Mark Reckless

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I greatly welcome the £13.4 million of investment recently signed off for Medway hospital’s A and E department. Does the Secretary of State also understand the hospital’s need for a further £20 million of capital for medical wards around the A and E department to support integrated care and improve the throughput of patients to assist in turning around Medway hospital?

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.285.1

I am aware of those proposals, which we will obviously look at carefully. I am also aware that there are big pressures in the A and E department at Medway, but there are also other, more profound issues to do with the leadership at the hospital. The hon. Gentleman should rest assured that we are taking every step possible to try to turn things around.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I am aware of those proposals, which we will obviously look at carefully. I am also aware that there are big pressures in the A and E department at Medway, but there are also other, more profound issues to do with the leadership at the hospital. The hon. Gentleman should rest assured that we are taking every step possible to try to turn things around.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.285.2

I recently spent a shift at the Royal Cornwall hospital’s A and E department and saw at first hand the fantastic work it is doing. Does my right hon. Friend agree with the clinical team and with Mr Virr, who leads the department so well, that people need to remember that A and Es are for life and limb emergency treatment on the day and that they should consider the excellent alternatives, such as minor injuries departments and out-of-hours GP services, before automatically going to A and E?

Sarah Newton

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I recently spent a shift at the Royal Cornwall hospital’s A and E department and saw at first hand the fantastic work it is doing. Does my right hon. Friend agree with the clinical team and with Mr Virr, who leads the department so well, that people need to remember that A and Es are for life and limb emergency treatment on the day and that they should consider the excellent alternatives, such as minor injuries departments and out-of-hours GP services, before automatically going to A and E?

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.285.3

I commend my hon. Friend for her tremendous interest in the Royal Cornwall hospital and for her campaigning to support its efforts. I spoke with the chief executive earlier this week about the particular challenges with discharging patients. I also spoke with the deputy chief executive of the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust about the dramatic increase in 999 calls this winter. My hon. Friend is absolutely right that the public can help us by ensuring that they use alternatives to A and E wherever possible.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I commend my hon. Friend for her tremendous interest in the Royal Cornwall hospital and for her campaigning to support its efforts. I spoke with the chief executive earlier this week about the particular challenges with discharging patients. I also spoke with the deputy chief executive of the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust about the dramatic increase in 999 calls this winter. My hon. Friend is absolutely right that the public can help us by ensuring that they use alternatives to A and E wherever possible.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.285.4

When I led an integrated health and social care team 20 years ago, we found that carers no longer being able to care was a key reason why people went into hospital and into care. Will the Secretary of State now look again at the eligibility criteria introduced under the Care Act 2014 and ensure that a much greater number of carers can get support, because at the moment the number is being reduced?

Meg Munn

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

When I led an integrated health and social care team 20 years ago, we found that carers no longer being able to care was a key reason why people went into hospital and into care. Will the Secretary of State now look again at the eligibility criteria introduced under the Care Act 2014 and ensure that a much greater number of carers can get support, because at the moment the number is being reduced?

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.285.5

Under that Act we introduced national eligibility criteria to try to remove the postcode lottery that had existed previously. We have also introduced new rights for carers that require local authorities to take account of the pressures on them. I think that we are going in the right direction, but I accept that there is always more that can be done.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Under that Act we introduced national eligibility criteria to try to remove the postcode lottery that had existed previously. We have also introduced new rights for carers that require local authorities to take account of the pressures on them. I think that we are going in the right direction, but I accept that there is always more that can be done.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.285.6

Some 92.6% of patients in England are seen within four hours, as opposed to just 83.8% of patients in Wales. If Labour wants to make this a political football, why does it not play an away game down in Cardiff, where it is in charge and responsible for the disgracefully lower standards that we receive there?

David Davies

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Some 92.6% of patients in England are seen within four hours, as opposed to just 83.8% of patients in Wales. If Labour wants to make this a political football, why does it not play an away game down in Cardiff, where it is in charge and responsible for the disgracefully lower standards that we receive there?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.286.0

My hon. Friend makes his point powerfully, as ever. The rhetoric that we have heard from the Labour Benches today is interesting for its absence when we have debates on Wales. It seems to the public watching this that there is one rule for England and one rule for Wales, and that Labour is satisfied with lower standards in the parts of the country that it runs.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

My hon. Friend makes his point powerfully, as ever. The rhetoric that we have heard from the Labour Benches today is interesting for its absence when we have debates on Wales. It seems to the public watching this that there is one rule for England and one rule for Wales, and that Labour is satisfied with lower standards in the parts of the country that it runs.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.286.1

The NHS is in financial crisis, with more money needed for A and E, yet we are spending £10 billion a year on diabetes because people are consuming twice the daily amount of sugar that they should be consuming—nine teaspoonfuls for men, which is equivalent to a can of Coke, or six for women, which is equivalent to a light yoghurt. Does the Secretary of State agree and will he support my Bill, which is published today, which requires manufacturers to express sugar content in teaspoonfuls on products to empower consumers to make rational choices in order to manage down overall obesity—

Geraint Davies

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

The NHS is in financial crisis, with more money needed for A and E, yet we are spending £10 billion a year on diabetes because people are consuming twice the daily amount of sugar that they should be consuming—nine teaspoonfuls for men, which is equivalent to a can of Coke, or six for women, which is equivalent to a light yoghurt. Does the Secretary of State agree and will he support my Bill, which is published today, which requires manufacturers to express sugar content in teaspoonfuls on products to empower consumers to make rational choices in order to manage down overall obesity—

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.286.2

Order. [Interruption.] Order. These are extremely important matters, but their relevance to the question of A and E was not immediately obvious to me, added to which, unfortunately, the hon. Gentleman—

Mr Speaker

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Order. [Interruption.] Order. These are extremely important matters, but their relevance to the question of A and E was not immediately obvious to me, added to which, unfortunately, the hon. Gentleman—

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.286.3

rose—

Geraint Davies

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

rose—

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.286.4

No. I am not debating with the hon. Gentleman; I am telling him. His inquiry suffered from one little disadvantage: it was too long.

Mr Speaker

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

No. I am not debating with the hon. Gentleman; I am telling him. His inquiry suffered from one little disadvantage: it was too long.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.286.5

I have spoken to the hon. Member for Swansea West (Geraint Davies) about his Bill. Part of the long-term solution is to give people better information about sugar consumption. We will certainly look at what the Bill proposes.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I have spoken to the hon. Member for Swansea West (Geraint Davies) about his Bill. Part of the long-term solution is to give people better information about sugar consumption. We will certainly look at what the Bill proposes.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.286.6

My right hon. Friend will be aware that the Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, my right hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), and I were very unhappy that the A and E was closed and moved to Watford. Since then Watford hospital has had a turbulent time. This morning the chief executive resigned, having got part-way through a process of consultation. May I ask for the consultation to be put on hold until the new chief executive is in place and has their feet under the table? We do not need more turbulence in our hospitals in west Hertfordshire.

Anne Main

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

My right hon. Friend will be aware that the Minister for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, my right hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning), and I were very unhappy that the A and E was closed and moved to Watford. Since then Watford hospital has had a turbulent time. This morning the chief executive resigned, having got part-way through a process of consultation. May I ask for the consultation to be put on hold until the new chief executive is in place and has their feet under the table? We do not need more turbulence in our hospitals in west Hertfordshire.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.286.7

I am sorry to hear the news about the chief executive at Watford. I am aware of the pressures there and I agree with my hon. Friend about the need for stability in management as much as possible over the next few months.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I am sorry to hear the news about the chief executive at Watford. I am aware of the pressures there and I agree with my hon. Friend about the need for stability in management as much as possible over the next few months.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.286.8

One of my constituents wrote to me about her elderly mother who faced a wait of many hours for an ambulance to A and E. My constituent told me that at A and E she saw patients on trolleys backed up through the corridor to ambulances waiting in the car park. Meanwhile, patients were waiting at home, unable to get those same ambulances. She described the scene as “a war zone”. Is it not the case that A and E is unable to cope, the ambulance service is unable to cope, and patients who need to go to A and E are suffering?

Bill Esterson

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

One of my constituents wrote to me about her elderly mother who faced a wait of many hours for an ambulance to A and E. My constituent told me that at A and E she saw patients on trolleys backed up through the corridor to ambulances waiting in the car park. Meanwhile, patients were waiting at home, unable to get those same ambulances. She described the scene as “a war zone”. Is it not the case that A and E is unable to cope, the ambulance service is unable to cope, and patients who need to go to A and E are suffering?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.287.0

I agree that there are real pressures in A and E across the system, but it is important to remind the public that even under that pressure, nine out of 10 people continue to be seen, treated and sent home within four hours. That is an extremely impressive record for the people working very hard in our A and E departments.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I agree that there are real pressures in A and E across the system, but it is important to remind the public that even under that pressure, nine out of 10 people continue to be seen, treated and sent home within four hours. That is an extremely impressive record for the people working very hard in our A and E departments.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.287.1

The Norfolk and Norwich hospital declared a major incident. Its medical staff say that care is safe. Will my right hon. Friend join me in supporting Norwich NHS staff and their innovative urgent care unit, will he urge Norwich GPs to apply to the access fund, and will he condemn some of Labour’s political leaflets in Norwich which carry fake NHS stories, as told to me by NHS workers?

Chloe Smith

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

The Norfolk and Norwich hospital declared a major incident. Its medical staff say that care is safe. Will my right hon. Friend join me in supporting Norwich NHS staff and their innovative urgent care unit, will he urge Norwich GPs to apply to the access fund, and will he condemn some of Labour’s political leaflets in Norwich which carry fake NHS stories, as told to me by NHS workers?

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.287.2

It is important for all parties to behave responsibly when the NHS front line is under such pressure. My hon. Friend might want to remind her Labour opponents locally that in Norwich there are 97 more doctors than four years ago and 145 more nurses, all possible because of a strong economy.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

It is important for all parties to behave responsibly when the NHS front line is under such pressure. My hon. Friend might want to remind her Labour opponents locally that in Norwich there are 97 more doctors than four years ago and 145 more nurses, all possible because of a strong economy.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.287.3

Last week 1,631 people visited Plymouth A and E. One in 10 of them waited more than four hours. Staff are showing great dedication and doing extra shifts, but that is not sustainable. Will the Secretary of State please take his head out of the sand and, if he is serious about depoliticising the issue, will he take up the shadow Secretary of State’s offer of a cross-party summit to look at all the issues behind the crisis?

Alison Seabeck

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Last week 1,631 people visited Plymouth A and E. One in 10 of them waited more than four hours. Staff are showing great dedication and doing extra shifts, but that is not sustainable. Will the Secretary of State please take his head out of the sand and, if he is serious about depoliticising the issue, will he take up the shadow Secretary of State’s offer of a cross-party summit to look at all the issues behind the crisis?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.287.4

I was talking to a doctor at Plymouth last night and I recognise that there are real pressures there and staff are working very hard. The long-term solution is to back the non-party political plan that the NHS itself has put together under the leadership of Simon Stevens—the “Five Year Forward View”. We made the big call in our autumn statement to find £2 billion, which is what he said the NHS needed next year, and I hope Labour will support that. Then we can have the kind of consensus that the hon. Lady asked for.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I was talking to a doctor at Plymouth last night and I recognise that there are real pressures there and staff are working very hard. The long-term solution is to back the non-party political plan that the NHS itself has put together under the leadership of Simon Stevens—the “Five Year Forward View”. We made the big call in our autumn statement to find £2 billion, which is what he said the NHS needed next year, and I hope Labour will support that. Then we can have the kind of consensus that the hon. Lady asked for.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.287.5

In 2003, a dozen years almost to the day, I accompanied my grandmother to A and E. We arrived at 8 o’clock in the morning. She was not allocated a bed until 9.30 that evening. May I impress upon my right hon. Friend that money alone is not the issue? It is important that we push ahead with the long-term plan and do not adopt a short-term opportunistic approach.

Paul Uppal

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

In 2003, a dozen years almost to the day, I accompanied my grandmother to A and E. We arrived at 8 o’clock in the morning. She was not allocated a bed until 9.30 that evening. May I impress upon my right hon. Friend that money alone is not the issue? It is important that we push ahead with the long-term plan and do not adopt a short-term opportunistic approach.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.287.6

My hon. Friend is right. It is important to say that lots of people in the NHS have been asked in the past few days on the media what the issues are, and they have not been saying that it is about money. They have been saying that it is about reforming the structures. That is why, as well as the money that is available for this winter, we need to look at the plans that we can put in place to improve access to GPs, to improve the co-ordination between the health and the social care systems, to deal with issues that prevent people going to hospital in the first place. That is what this Government want to do.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

My hon. Friend is right. It is important to say that lots of people in the NHS have been asked in the past few days on the media what the issues are, and they have not been saying that it is about money. They have been saying that it is about reforming the structures. That is why, as well as the money that is available for this winter, we need to look at the plans that we can put in place to improve access to GPs, to improve the co-ordination between the health and the social care systems, to deal with issues that prevent people going to hospital in the first place. That is what this Government want to do.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.288.0

Many of my constituents in Feltham and Heston have raised with me their concerns about being able to access GP services, some having to wait weeks and in the mean time having to seek emergency help. Does the Secretary of State now regret the Government’s decision to axe Labour’s guarantee of a GP appointment within 48 hours?

Seema Malhotra

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Many of my constituents in Feltham and Heston have raised with me their concerns about being able to access GP services, some having to wait weeks and in the mean time having to seek emergency help. Does the Secretary of State now regret the Government’s decision to axe Labour’s guarantee of a GP appointment within 48 hours?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.288.1

If the hon. Lady regrets that, she might want to ask her Labour colleagues in Wales why they also axed the 48-hour target. We do need better access to GPs. That is why we are funding the training of 5,000 more GPs over the next five years. With targets, we must be careful of unintended consequences. When we had that target in place, a quarter of people who asked for an appointment in more than two days were told that that would not be possible, because we found that people played the target. That is why we do not want to go back to that system.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

If the hon. Lady regrets that, she might want to ask her Labour colleagues in Wales why they also axed the 48-hour target. We do need better access to GPs. That is why we are funding the training of 5,000 more GPs over the next five years. With targets, we must be careful of unintended consequences. When we had that target in place, a quarter of people who asked for an appointment in more than two days were told that that would not be possible, because we found that people played the target. That is why we do not want to go back to that system.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.288.2

As set out in the College of Emergency Medicine’s 10-point plan to improve A and E, co-location of GP surgeries is key. Does my right hon. Friend agree?

Justin Tomlinson

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

As set out in the College of Emergency Medicine’s 10-point plan to improve A and E, co-location of GP surgeries is key. Does my right hon. Friend agree?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.288.3

I agree with pretty much all the College of Emergency Medicine’s 10-point plan. That has very much informed our approach to helping the NHS over this winter. Co-location of GP surgeries on hospital sites is very helpful, but we also need more proactive care for the most vulnerable older people before they feel the need to go to hospital. That will be at the heart of the changes that we want to see.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I agree with pretty much all the College of Emergency Medicine’s 10-point plan. That has very much informed our approach to helping the NHS over this winter. Co-location of GP surgeries on hospital sites is very helpful, but we also need more proactive care for the most vulnerable older people before they feel the need to go to hospital. That will be at the heart of the changes that we want to see.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.288.4

The reason that west London now regularly has the worst waiting times for A and E, with up to 50% of patients waiting more than four hours, is a direct result of the Secretary of State’s decision to close the Hammersmith and Central Middlesex A and E four months ago. These are sick people who need A and E, not GP services. We have GP services at those hospitals. What we need is for him to cancel or at least review the downgrading of the A and E departments at Charing Cross and Ealing hospitals to GP-led emergency centres. Will he at least do that?

Andy Slaughter

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

The reason that west London now regularly has the worst waiting times for A and E, with up to 50% of patients waiting more than four hours, is a direct result of the Secretary of State’s decision to close the Hammersmith and Central Middlesex A and E four months ago. These are sick people who need A and E, not GP services. We have GP services at those hospitals. What we need is for him to cancel or at least review the downgrading of the A and E departments at Charing Cross and Ealing hospitals to GP-led emergency centres. Will he at least do that?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.288.5

I say gently to the hon. Gentleman that if we are to solve the problems in his area and others, we should listen to the doctors about the structures that will work best. The structures that we put in place are the structures that doctors advised us to set up. That is why we are supporting them.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I say gently to the hon. Gentleman that if we are to solve the problems in his area and others, we should listen to the doctors about the structures that will work best. The structures that we put in place are the structures that doctors advised us to set up. That is why we are supporting them.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.288.6

Mrs Bone would like to offer best wishes for the new year to the Secretary of State. The reason she can do this is the excellent health care provided by the NHS in both Kettering general hospital and Northampton general hospital. Locally, the commissioners and the acute hospitals are together working out a plan to deal with accident and emergency. Is not that the way forward?

Peter Bone

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Mrs Bone would like to offer best wishes for the new year to the Secretary of State. The reason she can do this is the excellent health care provided by the NHS in both Kettering general hospital and Northampton general hospital. Locally, the commissioners and the acute hospitals are together working out a plan to deal with accident and emergency. Is not that the way forward?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.289.0

Indeed. I pass on my best wishes for the new year to Mrs Bone. Like many people, she has benefited from superb NHS care. A million more people are having operations every year under this Government, and 700,000 more people are being seen within four hours at A and E under this Government.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Indeed. I pass on my best wishes for the new year to Mrs Bone. Like many people, she has benefited from superb NHS care. A million more people are having operations every year under this Government, and 700,000 more people are being seen within four hours at A and E under this Government.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.289.1

The NHS is a system, which is why cuts to social care and other parts of the system affect A and E. With that in mind, and with 14 hospitals in a state of emergency, will the Secretary of State review the plans that are in place should a winter crisis of cold weather come along at this very vulnerable point?

Gavin Shuker

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

The NHS is a system, which is why cuts to social care and other parts of the system affect A and E. With that in mind, and with 14 hospitals in a state of emergency, will the Secretary of State review the plans that are in place should a winter crisis of cold weather come along at this very vulnerable point?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.289.2

It is interesting that what the hon. Gentleman did not want to talk to the House about was his own local hospital, which is performing extremely well for A and E. It would be good if more of those on the Opposition Benches talked about the good things that are happening in the NHS, including nine out of 10 people who go to A and E being seen within four hours.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

It is interesting that what the hon. Gentleman did not want to talk to the House about was his own local hospital, which is performing extremely well for A and E. It would be good if more of those on the Opposition Benches talked about the good things that are happening in the NHS, including nine out of 10 people who go to A and E being seen within four hours.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.289.3

I thank the Secretary of State for the £13.4 million given to Medway Maritime hospital’s A and E department. Will he assure me that everything that everything that can be done is being done to turn around hospitals in special measures such as Medway, which had the seventh highest mortality rate in 2006 yet nothing was done? Will he also join me in paying tribute to all the front-line staff who do a fantastic job at Medway?

Rehman Chishti

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I thank the Secretary of State for the £13.4 million given to Medway Maritime hospital’s A and E department. Will he assure me that everything that everything that can be done is being done to turn around hospitals in special measures such as Medway, which had the seventh highest mortality rate in 2006 yet nothing was done? Will he also join me in paying tribute to all the front-line staff who do a fantastic job at Medway?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.289.4

I am happy to do that. One of the things that this Government are most proud of is what we have done to turn around hospitals with entrenched low standards of care following the terrible tragedy at Mid Staffs, with 18 hospitals put into special measures and six of them turned around. Despite all the pressure on me and on this Government to hit targets, we are sending out signals to the system, loud and clear, that targets matter, but not at any cost, and that we do not want corners cut when it comes to patient safety.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I am happy to do that. One of the things that this Government are most proud of is what we have done to turn around hospitals with entrenched low standards of care following the terrible tragedy at Mid Staffs, with 18 hospitals put into special measures and six of them turned around. Despite all the pressure on me and on this Government to hit targets, we are sending out signals to the system, loud and clear, that targets matter, but not at any cost, and that we do not want corners cut when it comes to patient safety.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.289.5

Last weekend at Royal Blackburn hospital’s A and E, which I have been concerned about for quite a while, 18 ambulances were waiting outside. That was revealed not by the NHS but by a whistleblower, who described the situation as “chaos”. Is it happening because there are too many patients putting too much pressure on the NHS or because of mismanagement of the NHS by the Conservatives?

Graham Jones

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Last weekend at Royal Blackburn hospital’s A and E, which I have been concerned about for quite a while, 18 ambulances were waiting outside. That was revealed not by the NHS but by a whistleblower, who described the situation as “chaos”. Is it happening because there are too many patients putting too much pressure on the NHS or because of mismanagement of the NHS by the Conservatives?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.289.6

It is because of unprecedented demand caused by a range of factors. If the hon. Gentleman looks at the facts, he will see an NHS that is treating more people more quickly, with more doctors, more nurses and more operations than ever before. Sometimes, though, as I said yesterday, people on the front line feel that they are running just to stand still because there is so much pressure. That is why the £700 million in our winter plan and the money we are putting in to back the five-year forward view next year are so important.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

It is because of unprecedented demand caused by a range of factors. If the hon. Gentleman looks at the facts, he will see an NHS that is treating more people more quickly, with more doctors, more nurses and more operations than ever before. Sometimes, though, as I said yesterday, people on the front line feel that they are running just to stand still because there is so much pressure. That is why the £700 million in our winter plan and the money we are putting in to back the five-year forward view next year are so important.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.290.0

Does my right hon. Friend agree that we should not be playing party politics with the NHS in the way that my opponent in Redditch is by putting out leaflets saying that I am systematically voting against the NHS, but that we should be working together with our trusts and partners in ensuring that we get through this problem, as we are trying to do in Worcestershire?

Karen Lumley

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Does my right hon. Friend agree that we should not be playing party politics with the NHS in the way that my opponent in Redditch is by putting out leaflets saying that I am systematically voting against the NHS, but that we should be working together with our trusts and partners in ensuring that we get through this problem, as we are trying to do in Worcestershire?

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.290.1

I absolutely do agree. Labour Members should talk to some of the front-line NHS workers in their own constituencies, who will tell them that the last thing they want at this time is for the NHS to be a political football.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I absolutely do agree. Labour Members should talk to some of the front-line NHS workers in their own constituencies, who will tell them that the last thing they want at this time is for the NHS to be a political football.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.290.2

The Secretary of State will know that major incident status was declared at Leicester hospitals this week for the seventh time in three months. In the week before Christmas, just 67% of patients at Leicester Royal Infirmary in my constituency were seen within the four-hour target, and clinicians, who are working flat out, expect pressures to increase over the next three months. What is he now going to do to support clinicians in Leicester and get a grip of this situation?

Jonathan Ashworth

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

The Secretary of State will know that major incident status was declared at Leicester hospitals this week for the seventh time in three months. In the week before Christmas, just 67% of patients at Leicester Royal Infirmary in my constituency were seen within the four-hour target, and clinicians, who are working flat out, expect pressures to increase over the next three months. What is he now going to do to support clinicians in Leicester and get a grip of this situation?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.290.3

I am aware of the situation in Leicester. The hospital has had significant space pressures in its emergency department, and a couple of nights ago it had a high in-flow during one night, but it is absolutely on the case in trying to resolve this. What are we doing? Well, we have put in £9.2 million of winter pressures money to make sure that whatever people decide the right solution is, it is not through lack of resources that they cannot do it.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I am aware of the situation in Leicester. The hospital has had significant space pressures in its emergency department, and a couple of nights ago it had a high in-flow during one night, but it is absolutely on the case in trying to resolve this. What are we doing? Well, we have put in £9.2 million of winter pressures money to make sure that whatever people decide the right solution is, it is not through lack of resources that they cannot do it.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.290.4

Last Saturday night, while I was visiting my wife’s family in Leicestershire, my baby daughter suddenly became quite ill. Rather than going to A and E, we rang the 111 service and were quickly referred to Loughborough urgent care centre, where we had fantastic treatment; I pay tribute to the staff. Does this not go to show that we need to prioritise new models of urgent care, as set out in Simon Stevens’s review?

Chris Skidmore

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Last Saturday night, while I was visiting my wife’s family in Leicestershire, my baby daughter suddenly became quite ill. Rather than going to A and E, we rang the 111 service and were quickly referred to Loughborough urgent care centre, where we had fantastic treatment; I pay tribute to the staff. Does this not go to show that we need to prioritise new models of urgent care, as set out in Simon Stevens’s review?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.290.5

We absolutely do that. Telephones and the internet provide different ways to get the right advice to people quickly. The 111 service is taking a considerable amount of strain at the moment, and we have put in more money to support it. We are investing a lot more in tele-health and tele-medicine, and a lot more to help GPs who want to give people out-of-hours appointments. In the long run, that is the way we will reduce the kinds of pressures that my hon. Friend talks about.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

We absolutely do that. Telephones and the internet provide different ways to get the right advice to people quickly. The 111 service is taking a considerable amount of strain at the moment, and we have put in more money to support it. We are investing a lot more in tele-health and tele-medicine, and a lot more to help GPs who want to give people out-of-hours appointments. In the long run, that is the way we will reduce the kinds of pressures that my hon. Friend talks about.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.290.6

Over three years ago, I raised with Ministers problems about the North East ambulance service that had been pointed out to me by the paramedics, but unfortunately they were brushed aside. My constituent, Violet Alliston, had the terrible experience of her partner ringing for an ambulance three times in the course of an hour before the ambulance came. She then died. This is obviously completely unacceptable. Why will not the Secretary of State look again at the resources he is taking out of the North East ambulance service, the skills base of the call handlers, and the triage system?

Helen Goodman

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Over three years ago, I raised with Ministers problems about the North East ambulance service that had been pointed out to me by the paramedics, but unfortunately they were brushed aside. My constituent, Violet Alliston, had the terrible experience of her partner ringing for an ambulance three times in the course of an hour before the ambulance came. She then died. This is obviously completely unacceptable. Why will not the Secretary of State look again at the resources he is taking out of the North East ambulance service, the skills base of the call handlers, and the triage system?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.291.0

I am extremely sorry to hear the story that the hon. Lady talks about, and I know that the NHS will investigate it fully. We are not cutting resources to ambulances, though. We have 2,000 more paramedics than four years ago, and £50 million is being put in this winter. Of course, we need to look very carefully into the particular case that she mentions and make sure that any lessons are learned.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I am extremely sorry to hear the story that the hon. Lady talks about, and I know that the NHS will investigate it fully. We are not cutting resources to ambulances, though. We have 2,000 more paramedics than four years ago, and £50 million is being put in this winter. Of course, we need to look very carefully into the particular case that she mentions and make sure that any lessons are learned.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.291.1

rose—

Several hon. Members

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

rose—

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.291.2

Order. I really am keen to accommodate remaining colleagues, because I understand the interest in this subject. May I appeal to colleagues to put single, short supplementary questions without preamble? Now, who might be a master of the genre—Mr Richard Graham?

Mr Speaker

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Order. I really am keen to accommodate remaining colleagues, because I understand the interest in this subject. May I appeal to colleagues to put single, short supplementary questions without preamble? Now, who might be a master of the genre—Mr Richard Graham?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.291.3

Thank you, Mr Speaker—I will seize the moment. Part of the long-term solution is attracting and retaining more nurses. Will my right hon. Friend encourage the National Health Executive to allow the university of Gloucestershire to run pre-registration training courses for nurses so that we can attract and retain more local nurses?

Richard Graham

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Thank you, Mr Speaker—I will seize the moment. Part of the long-term solution is attracting and retaining more nurses. Will my right hon. Friend encourage the National Health Executive to allow the university of Gloucestershire to run pre-registration training courses for nurses so that we can attract and retain more local nurses?

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.291.4

I am happy to do that, and also to welcome the 80 new nurses in my hon. Friend’s local area over the past four years.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I am happy to do that, and also to welcome the 80 new nurses in my hon. Friend’s local area over the past four years.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.291.5

The Secretary of State will be aware that there are particular issues at Kettering General hospital’s A and E unit. It has improved its performance, but it has been described, to the shock of all the MPs in the area, as the worst seen in the country. We have done an awful lot of work. On Tuesday we are bringing the local health organisations together to the Department. Will he encourage his ministerial colleagues to give the green light to our plan for our area?

Andy Sawford

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

The Secretary of State will be aware that there are particular issues at Kettering General hospital’s A and E unit. It has improved its performance, but it has been described, to the shock of all the MPs in the area, as the worst seen in the country. We have done an awful lot of work. On Tuesday we are bringing the local health organisations together to the Department. Will he encourage his ministerial colleagues to give the green light to our plan for our area?

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.291.6

We will look at that very carefully. Of course, anything that can help to relieve pressure on A and E departments is our top priority at the moment.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

We will look at that very carefully. Of course, anything that can help to relieve pressure on A and E departments is our top priority at the moment.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.291.7

My constituent, Mr J. Hollinshead, rang Ashfields surgery, Alsager, for an appointment at 8.30 am on 2 January. He was given one for 10.30 am, when his doctor referred him for three tests to be done with the practice nurse at 11.30 am, then on to Leighton hospital for an X-ray, and he was home by 1.30 pm. His response: “How good is that?” Is not that a truer picture of the NHS under this Government than the negative messages coming out from Labour Members?

Fiona Bruce

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

My constituent, Mr J. Hollinshead, rang Ashfields surgery, Alsager, for an appointment at 8.30 am on 2 January. He was given one for 10.30 am, when his doctor referred him for three tests to be done with the practice nurse at 11.30 am, then on to Leighton hospital for an X-ray, and he was home by 1.30 pm. His response: “How good is that?” Is not that a truer picture of the NHS under this Government than the negative messages coming out from Labour Members?

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.291.8

I agree that we need to recognise the successes of the NHS, and there are many of those successes. The reason we need to do that—I urge Labour Members to remember this—is that it is very important for the morale of people working in the NHS that we publicly recognise where they are being successful.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I agree that we need to recognise the successes of the NHS, and there are many of those successes. The reason we need to do that—I urge Labour Members to remember this—is that it is very important for the morale of people working in the NHS that we publicly recognise where they are being successful.

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uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.292.0

Is it not true that this Government set out with a plan to close nine out of 31 A and Es in London, including the one at Lewisham, as directed specifically from the Secretary of State’s office? Does he regret that? What state does he think the A and E services in south-east London would be in if he had been successful, in the face of public opposition, in closing that A and E?

Clive Efford

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Is it not true that this Government set out with a plan to close nine out of 31 A and Es in London, including the one at Lewisham, as directed specifically from the Secretary of State’s office? Does he regret that? What state does he think the A and E services in south-east London would be in if he had been successful, in the face of public opposition, in closing that A and E?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.292.1

First, as the hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well, there were never any plans to close that A and E, and he should desist from scaremongering about what was happening at Lewisham hospital. He should also remember that when this Government came into office—[Interruption.] The plans—

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

First, as the hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well, there were never any plans to close that A and E, and he should desist from scaremongering about what was happening at Lewisham hospital. He should also remember that when this Government came into office—[Interruption.] The plans—

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.292.2

You idiot—it went to court!

Clive Efford

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

You idiot—it went to court!

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.292.3

Order. First of all, it is unseemly to squawk, and I think it would be accurate to say that what I heard was a squawk. I am not sure if there is a verb “to squawk”, but there was a squawking sound. What is worse, it was unparliamentary language, and I believe that the hon. Gentleman used a word that he will now wish to withdraw.

Mr Speaker

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Order. First of all, it is unseemly to squawk, and I think it would be accurate to say that what I heard was a squawk. I am not sure if there is a verb “to squawk”, but there was a squawking sound. What is worse, it was unparliamentary language, and I believe that the hon. Gentleman used a word that he will now wish to withdraw.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.292.4

I withdraw it unreservedly, Mr Speaker, but the public out there will draw their own conclusions.

Clive Efford

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I withdraw it unreservedly, Mr Speaker, but the public out there will draw their own conclusions.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.292.5

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his withdrawal and I note what he says.

Mr Speaker

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his withdrawal and I note what he says.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.292.6

The plans were to continue to have an A and E at Lewisham but to take some of the higher-risk patients to another hospital. Those are the plans that we originally had that have now been changed. What I will say to the hon. Gentleman, though, is that there were problems with South London Healthcare Trust for years and years. This Government dealt with them and sorted them out, and that means that his constituents are getting better care than they otherwise would have done.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

The plans were to continue to have an A and E at Lewisham but to take some of the higher-risk patients to another hospital. Those are the plans that we originally had that have now been changed. What I will say to the hon. Gentleman, though, is that there were problems with South London Healthcare Trust for years and years. This Government dealt with them and sorted them out, and that means that his constituents are getting better care than they otherwise would have done.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.292.7

Will my right hon. Friend join me in congratulating the staff at Royal Lancaster Infirmary on meeting their A and E targets in November? Will he also share my revulsion at the Opposition putting out a leaflet saying that there are all kinds of things wrong with the A and E and that it is going to close?

David Morris

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Will my right hon. Friend join me in congratulating the staff at Royal Lancaster Infirmary on meeting their A and E targets in November? Will he also share my revulsion at the Opposition putting out a leaflet saying that there are all kinds of things wrong with the A and E and that it is going to close?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.292.8

That is exactly the kind of scaremongering, frankly, that is incredibly demoralising for those who are on the NHS front line right now. I urge Labour Members to think before they start doing things that make a difficult situation even worse.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

That is exactly the kind of scaremongering, frankly, that is incredibly demoralising for those who are on the NHS front line right now. I urge Labour Members to think before they start doing things that make a difficult situation even worse.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.292.9

The South Western ambulance service came close to declaring a major incident on 27 December, and local hospitals warned of unprecedented demand last weekend. What is the Secretary of State doing specifically to help hospitals and the ambulance service in the Bristol and Avon area to survive the winter?

Kerry McCarthy

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

The South Western ambulance service came close to declaring a major incident on 27 December, and local hospitals warned of unprecedented demand last weekend. What is the Secretary of State doing specifically to help hospitals and the ambulance service in the Bristol and Avon area to survive the winter?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.292.10

As I mentioned earlier, I have talked to the chief executive of South Western ambulance service about the particular pressures it has faced, such as the 25% increase in 999 calls. We are doing a lot of things, including helping to recruit more paramedics. We have 40 more paramedics starting for the London ambulance service this month, and we are doing what we can to help the South Western ambulance service as well.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

As I mentioned earlier, I have talked to the chief executive of South Western ambulance service about the particular pressures it has faced, such as the 25% increase in 999 calls. We are doing a lot of things, including helping to recruit more paramedics. We have 40 more paramedics starting for the London ambulance service this month, and we are doing what we can to help the South Western ambulance service as well.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.293.0

About a third of the patients attending A and E at the Countess of Chester hospital are from the Welsh side of the border. They choose to go there because they know they will get treated a lot quicker in England than they will in Wales. Why is that the case?

Stephen Mosley

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

About a third of the patients attending A and E at the Countess of Chester hospital are from the Welsh side of the border. They choose to go there because they know they will get treated a lot quicker in England than they will in Wales. Why is that the case?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.293.1

The main reason is that Labour in Wales chose to cut the NHS budget, whereas in England we chose to protect and increase it.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

The main reason is that Labour in Wales chose to cut the NHS budget, whereas in England we chose to protect and increase it.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.293.2

Before a major incident was declared yesterday morning, 76 patients were awaiting transfer to social care in the Royal Bolton hospital—nearly four wards-full—so when is the Secretary of State going to do something effective about the crisis in social care that is causing mayhem in our accident and emergency department?

David Crausby

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Before a major incident was declared yesterday morning, 76 patients were awaiting transfer to social care in the Royal Bolton hospital—nearly four wards-full—so when is the Secretary of State going to do something effective about the crisis in social care that is causing mayhem in our accident and emergency department?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.293.3

I recognise the pressures that the hon. Gentleman is talking about, but last year, for the first time, the local NHS and the local authority in Bolton sat down together to plan social care for the most vulnerable people—his constituents—who need such joined-up care and have wanted but not had it for so many years. With the better care programme from this April, we will start to see some real improvements.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I recognise the pressures that the hon. Gentleman is talking about, but last year, for the first time, the local NHS and the local authority in Bolton sat down together to plan social care for the most vulnerable people—his constituents—who need such joined-up care and have wanted but not had it for so many years. With the better care programme from this April, we will start to see some real improvements.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.293.4

In 2005, the Labour Government closed the accident and emergency department at Crawley hospital, but services are now returning to the urgent treatment centre. Does my right hon. Friend believe that such centres play an important part in relieving pressure on emergency services?

Henry Smith

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

In 2005, the Labour Government closed the accident and emergency department at Crawley hospital, but services are now returning to the urgent treatment centre. Does my right hon. Friend believe that such centres play an important part in relieving pressure on emergency services?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.293.5

They absolutely do. One thing we must do better is signpost people to the different parts of the NHS, such as walk-in centres, urgent treatment centres, GP surgeries or A and E departments. That is why the 111 service is so important in giving that advice at the earliest possible stage.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

They absolutely do. One thing we must do better is signpost people to the different parts of the NHS, such as walk-in centres, urgent treatment centres, GP surgeries or A and E departments. That is why the 111 service is so important in giving that advice at the earliest possible stage.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.293.6

Does the Secretary of State now regret the cuts inflicted on Southampton social care provision—they were draconian, disproportionate and possibly motivated by political football—given that Southampton city council has been unable to support the Southampton general hospital by moving people into social care and away from accident and emergency? Will he have a word with Communities and Local Government Ministers to get that put right?

Alan Whitehead

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

Does the Secretary of State now regret the cuts inflicted on Southampton social care provision—they were draconian, disproportionate and possibly motivated by political football—given that Southampton city council has been unable to support the Southampton general hospital by moving people into social care and away from accident and emergency? Will he have a word with Communities and Local Government Ministers to get that put right?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.293.7

If the hon. Gentleman feels strongly about that he might want to talk to the shadow Chancellor, who this week publicly ruled out any extra funding for social care.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

If the hon. Gentleman feels strongly about that he might want to talk to the shadow Chancellor, who this week publicly ruled out any extra funding for social care.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.293.8

I was at Ipswich hospital this morning to talk to the senior clinical team. They have exceeded their targets in A and E—it is the fifth best performing hospital in the country—and they have done so because of their work. Will the Secretary of State congratulate them, and does he regret the politicking that undermines their incredible efforts in the service of my constituents?

Ben Gummer

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

I was at Ipswich hospital this morning to talk to the senior clinical team. They have exceeded their targets in A and E—it is the fifth best performing hospital in the country—and they have done so because of their work. Will the Secretary of State congratulate them, and does he regret the politicking that undermines their incredible efforts in the service of my constituents?

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.294.0

The services that the Ipswich team have been delivering are absolutely brilliant, and I congratulate them. I thank my hon. Friend for his support for their work, which I know is so important for the people of Ipswich.

Jeremy Hunt

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

The services that the Ipswich team have been delivering are absolutely brilliant, and I congratulate them. I thank my hon. Friend for his support for their work, which I know is so important for the people of Ipswich.

381866fb-3bc8-4bf6-85f2-4e382832e9ff

uk.org.publicwhip/debate/2015-01-07b.294.1

The Secretary of State said that 14 major incidents have been declared. I am told by a senior front-line worker that many hospitals are declaring internal major incidents—they have done so for some time—because that is more politically expedient and does not get into the press. How many internal major incidents have been declared in the past month?

Diana Johnson

ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

PRIME MINISTER

A and E (Major Incidents)

The Secretary of State said that 14 major incidents have been declared. I am told by a senior front-line worker that many hospitals are declaring internal major incidents—they have done so for some time—because that is more politically expedient and does not get into the press. How many internal major incidents have been declared in the past month?