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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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Red Cross head stands by 'crisis' claim after May rejection

The British Red Cross said it is working in 20 A&Es. Credit: PA

The head of the British Red Cross has defended its description of a "humanitarian crisis" in the NHS after the Government rejected the claim.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said severe problems were limited to "one or two hospitals" - while Prime Minister Theresa May, though accepting the health service faces "huge pressures", said the Red Cross description was not justified.

Red Cross chief Mike Adamson disagreed, saying: "We don't say this lightly and we have a duty to say it."

He said the charity had recently experienced a "significant change" in demand for help and was working in 20 A&Es.

Mr Adamson referred to recent deaths at Worcestershire Royal Hospital as extreme examples, but warned patients were suffering "prolonged physical and mental distress" on a broad scale.

He said the charity had a duty to expose a "plethora" of system failures that posed a "threat" to the nation's health and the ability of the NHS to cope.

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

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