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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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Junior doctors speak out on 'utter chaos' in NHS care

Junior doctors have complained of "utter chaos" from the NHS frontline amid claims from the Red Cross that the health service is facing a humanitarian crisis.

Dr Salwa Malik said at the NHS trusts where she had worked over the winter period it had "become normal" to have patients queuing up and down corridors.

Dr Zeshan Querishi said ambulances at the hospital where he was working were taking up to two hours to unload their patients into departments.

"I can't help but think we're not giving the care that we want to," he said.

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