Winter pressures in A&E: Department of Health statement
The Department of Health has responded to NHS England's report on winter pressures faced by accident and emergency departments.
A Department of Health spokesperson said:
Across the country, A&E departments have been seeing 95 per cent of their patients within four hours since the end of April. But with a million more people visiting A&E compared to three years ago, we know the system is under pressure.
That’s why we are tackling both the short and long-term problems: transforming out of hospital care by renegotiating the GP contract, agreeing a £3.8 billion integration fund to join up the health and social care system, and backing A&Es with £250 million to prepare for this winter.
Winter is always tough, but the NHS has never been more prepared.