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Hospital waiting times at worst-ever level Hospital waiting times at worst-ever level
(32 minutes later)
More patients than ever before are on hospital waiting lists in England and delays in A&E have hit their worst level since records began. Hospital performance in England is at its worst level on record, data shows.
The target to start cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral is also being missed. Key targets for cancer, hospital care and A&E have been missed for over three years - with delays for hospital care and in A&E hitting their highest levels since both targets were introduced.
The monthly statistics are the worst since targets were introduced, over a decade ago, prompting doctors to warn services were "imploding". The monthly figures - the last before the election - prompted Labour and the Liberal Democrats to attack the Tories' record on the NHS.
None of the three key hospital targets has been met for over three years. But Prime Minister Boris Johnson said "huge demand" was to blame.
He said only the Tories could be trusted to have a "strong, dynamic economy" to ensure the rises in the NHS budget being planned could be made.
"I'm afraid when I look at the rival proposals and the economic disaster that Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party would cause, that will make it impossible for us in the long term to fund the NHS."
But Labour leader Mr Corbyn said the performance figures were "disgusting" and claimed a lack of staff and funding was to blame.
Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman Luciana Berger added the Tories had a "shameful" record.
All the parties are proposing to increase the NHS budget. The government announced a five-year funding plan last year which will see the front-line budget rise by 3.4% a year up to 2023.
On Wednesday Labour said it would spend more - 3.9% extra a year - while the Lib Dems are proposing to use a penny rise in income tax to invest extra in social care, mental health and public health.
How bad is the latest performance?
The latest monthly performance report is basically the worst on record since targets started to be introduced in the 2000s.
The figures show:The figures show:
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are also missing their targets, although health is devolved so NHS decisions are taken by the administrations in those parts of the UK.Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are also missing their targets, although health is devolved so NHS decisions are taken by the administrations in those parts of the UK.
Health leaders fear for NHS
NHS England said hospitals were under pressure, seeing "more older and sicker patients".
A spokesman said, with winter coming, hospitals would be opening extra beds.
But he urged the public to play their part by getting the flu jab and using the 111 phone line and NHS online services "as first port of call for non-emergencies".
Dr Nick Scriven, of the Society of Acute Medicine, said: "These figures are truly worrying as we haven't even reached the 'traditional' winter period yet."
He said urgent action was needed, warning the system was "imploding".
"We have heard so many announcements over the last few weeks of half-baked projects that require either thrice promised money or are totally uncosted for the real world," he said.
BMA leader Dr Chaand Nagpaul said the NHS was facing a "catastrophe".
"This is completely unfair for patients and staff."
But Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents health managers, tweeted senior staff should be more careful with the language they used, criticising the use of imploding in particular.
However, he admitted he was worried about the "huge pressure" on the system at this point before the full onset of winter.
'I was left in excruciating pain''I was left in excruciating pain'
Frances Reid, 55, is one of many patients to have faced a long wait - for a hip replacement, in "excruciating" pain. Frances Reid, 55, is one of many patients to have faced a long wait.
She said she was left in "excruciating" pain waiting for a hip replacement.
Ms Reid, from South Cambridgeshire, was referred for surgery in January 2018, after struggling for the previous two years with hip pain.Ms Reid, from South Cambridgeshire, was referred for surgery in January 2018, after struggling for the previous two years with hip pain.
She should have been seen in April 2018, but waited until July for her surgery.She should have been seen in April 2018, but waited until July for her surgery.
The NHS ended up paying for her to be treated at a private unit because of the wait.The NHS ended up paying for her to be treated at a private unit because of the wait.
"The final weeks were really difficult," she says."The final weeks were really difficult," she says.
"I was walking up six, seven times a night and had to use walking sticks to get around."I was walking up six, seven times a night and had to use walking sticks to get around.
"Daily tasks like shopping became very difficult.""Daily tasks like shopping became very difficult."
Reaction from the campaign trail Health leaders fear for NHS
These are the last set of monthly figures before the election - and both Labour and the Liberal Democrats have said they are a damning indictment of Tory policies. Dr Nick Scriven, of the Society of Acute Medicine, said: "These figures are truly worrying as we haven't even reached the 'traditional' winter period yet."
He said urgent action was needed, warning the system was "imploding".
British Medical Association leader Dr Chaand Nagpaul said the NHS was facing a "catastrophe".
"This is completely unfair for patients and staff."
But Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents health managers, tweeted senior staff should be more careful with the language they used, criticising the use of imploding in particular.
However, he admitted he was worried about the "huge pressure" on the system at this point before the full onset of winter.
NHS England conceded hospitals were under pressure, seeing "more older and sicker patients".
A spokesman said, with winter coming, hospitals would be opening extra beds.
But he urged the public to play their part by getting the flu jab and using the 111 phone line and NHS online services "as first port of call for non-emergencies".
Have you waited more than four hours in A&E? Or have you waited more than 18 weeks for hospital treatment? Tell us your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Have you waited more than four hours in A&E? Or have you waited more than 18 weeks for hospital treatment? Tell us your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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