Hospital waiting times at worst-ever level
I suspect those rural hospitals (affectionately known in the NHS as “unavoidably small due to the challenge of remoteness”) will be at the forefront of this challenge – this story tells us:
Hospital performance in England is at its worst level on record, data shows.
Key targets for cancer, hospital care and A&E have been missed for over three years – with delays for hospital care and in A&E hitting their highest levels since both targets were introduced.
The monthly figures – the last before the election – prompted Labour and the Liberal Democrats to attack the Tories’ record on the NHS.
But Prime Minister Boris Johnson said “huge demand” was to blame.
He said only the Tories could be trusted to have a “strong, dynamic economy” to ensure the rises in the NHS budget being planned could be made.
“I’m afraid when I look at the rival proposals and the economic disaster that Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party would cause, that will make it impossible for us in the long term to fund the NHS.”
But Labour leader Mr Corbyn said the performance figures were “disgusting” and a lack of staff and funding was to blame.
And Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman Luciana Berger said the Tories had a “shameful” record.