PM calls for 'changes in practice' to help struggling A&Es

The Prime Minister said there needed to be "changes in practice" to help struggling A&E departments as the Government announced a £500 million boost to the emergency care system over the next two years.

He said: "It is a significant amount of money going into A&E departments over the next two years and that will cope with some of the difficulties we have seen.

"But alongside that money we also need to some changes in practice. We need to make sure there are more consultants and senior doctors available in our A&E departments.

"We need to make sure that GP surgeries work more closely with hospitals.

"We need to make sure the frail elderly are better cared for in our communities rather than endlessly going in and out of accident and emergency departments."