This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jan/08/theresa-may-denies-humanitarian-crisis-in-britains-nhs
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Theresa May denies 'humanitarian crisis' in Britain's NHS | Theresa May denies 'humanitarian crisis' in Britain's NHS |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Theresa May has rejected claims by the British Red Cross that the NHS is facing a “humanitarian disaster” as hospitals and ambulance services struggle to keep up with rising demand. | Theresa May has rejected claims by the British Red Cross that the NHS is facing a “humanitarian disaster” as hospitals and ambulance services struggle to keep up with rising demand. |
| Two patients died after long waits on trolleys in hospital corridors over the new year and the charity said it was responding to a crisis in the health system. | Two patients died after long waits on trolleys in hospital corridors over the new year and the charity said it was responding to a crisis in the health system. |
| Labour and Lib Dem politicians have called for May to announce an emergency rescue plan amid a chorus of warnings that hospitals and GP services across England have reached breaking point. | Labour and Lib Dem politicians have called for May to announce an emergency rescue plan amid a chorus of warnings that hospitals and GP services across England have reached breaking point. |
| But in an interview on Sky News on Sunday, May denied there was a humanitarian disaster in the NHS and refused to confirm whether she or the health secretary would appear in parliament this week to answer MPs’ questions. | But in an interview on Sky News on Sunday, May denied there was a humanitarian disaster in the NHS and refused to confirm whether she or the health secretary would appear in parliament this week to answer MPs’ questions. |
| “I don’t accept the description that the Red Cross has made on this. Yes there are pressures on the NHS ... we recognise those pressures,” May said. | “I don’t accept the description that the Red Cross has made on this. Yes there are pressures on the NHS ... we recognise those pressures,” May said. |
| She said an ageing population meant the NHS was facing big challenges but that it had received “record funding” over recent years. | She said an ageing population meant the NHS was facing big challenges but that it had received “record funding” over recent years. |
| “There are pressures in the NHS, we see those pressures. We have an ageing population, this brings pressures, particularly in the interface between the health service and social care. | “There are pressures in the NHS, we see those pressures. We have an ageing population, this brings pressures, particularly in the interface between the health service and social care. |
| “We have taken some immediate steps in relation to that issue but we are also looking to ensure best practice in the NHS and looking for a long-term solution to what has been a problem that has been ducked by government over the years.” | “We have taken some immediate steps in relation to that issue but we are also looking to ensure best practice in the NHS and looking for a long-term solution to what has been a problem that has been ducked by government over the years.” |
| The British Red Cross issued its warning earlier this week while the British Medical Association (BMA) said the government should be “ashamed” of the situation. | The British Red Cross issued its warning earlier this week while the British Medical Association (BMA) said the government should be “ashamed” of the situation. |
| The charity’s chief executive, Mike Adamson, said extra cash was needed for health and social care to make the system sustainable “The British Red Cross is on the frontline, responding to the humanitarian crisis in our hospital and ambulance services across the country,” he said. | |
| “We have been called in to support the NHS and help get people home from hospital and free up much-needed beds.” | “We have been called in to support the NHS and help get people home from hospital and free up much-needed beds.” |
| But Keith Willett, the director of acute care for NHS England, said: “On the international scale of a humanitarian crisis, I do not think the NHS is at that point.” | But Keith Willett, the director of acute care for NHS England, said: “On the international scale of a humanitarian crisis, I do not think the NHS is at that point.” |