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Hunt: 'Unprecedented demand' on NHS after A&E visits surge

Visits to some A&E departments are up 30% on last year leaving an "unprecedented demand" on hospitals, Jeremy Hunt has revealed.

The Health Secretary also told the House of Commons that the NHS is "committed" to a four-hour waiting time in A&E - but can only guarantee this to those requiring urgent medical care.

Earlier, Mr Hunt denied the NHS is facing a humanitarian crisis, saying "very serious problems" had been limited to "one or two hospitals".

The crisis description from the Red Cross came as two patients died last week in the same A&E department after awaiting treatment on trolleys, with one waiting for 35 hours.

Labour said Mr Hunt is living in "la la land," and urged him to admit the NHS is in a state of "crisis."

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Hunt stops short of endorsing whole NHS for own family

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has stopped short of saying he would be happy to currently send a member of his own family to any NHS hospital.

Asked if he could personally entrust the health service amid claims of a winter crisis, he said: "I would be happy to send a member of my family to the vast majority of NHS hospitals."

But when asked if he would send a loved one to a hospital with a high level alert, Mr Hunt replied: "Well the ones ... all hospitals have periods where the pressures get higher. What we've seen over this Christmas period is a few hospitals which have had very sustained and difficult problems particularly Worcestershire, but a number of others."

The health secretary earlier denied the NHS is facing a humanitarian crisis, saying "very serious problems" had been limited to "one or two hospitals".

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