Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to the latest A&E performance data for March, said:

“Today’s statistics reveal a shocking new low for A&E Departments under this Tory Government, following years of sustained underfunding.

“With more patients turning to private sector provision through ‘self-pay’ arrangements, the old fears of a middle class flight of people who can no longer tolerate waits for treatments from the NHS is returning, leaving a two tier service for the rest of us.

“It’s now clearer than ever that we face a year-round crisis in our NHS, which places the very future of our NHS at risk and requires a sustainable long term investment plan. At the last election Labour offered an extra £45 billion for health and social care across a Parliament. Ministers must urgently bring forward the investment our NHS needs.”