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Sir Keir Starmer has accused Rishi Sunak of presiding over “lethal chaos” in the NHS as the two clashed over ambulance waiting times during PMQs. <\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The Labour leader said ambulances were supposed to respond to emergency calls in 18 minutes, but some people were waiting more than two and a half hours.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The PM said the NHS was dealing with the “unprecedented challenges” of Covid and a “very virulent” flu season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He added that extra money from government would help reduce the waits.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The prime minister also attacked Sir Keir for opposing the government’s bill which would enforce minimum service levels during strike action including for ambulance staff, firefighters and railway workers. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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“It’s absolutely right that people can rely on the emergency services when they need them,” he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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“That’s why we are rapidly implementing measures to improve the delivery of ambulance times and, indeed, urgent and emergency care, but I’d say, if he cares about ensuring that patients get access to life-saving emergency care when they need it, why won’t he support our minimum safety legislation?”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The exchange came as the GMB union announced its ambulance staff would be striking on four new dates, including 6 February when nurses will also be taking industrial action. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n- Ambulance staff and nurses to strike on same day<\/li>\n
- ‘My dying husband could not get an ambulance’<\/li>\n
- Ambulances taking 90 minutes to get to 999 calls<\/li>\n
- The NHS crisis – decades in the making<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The Labour leader accused Mr Sunak of avoiding answering his questions and noted that if someone in Plymouth suffering from chest pains had phoned 999 at the start of Prime Minister’s Questions at midday, the ambulance wouldn’t arrive until 14:40 GMT.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He said the prime minister should “stop blaming others” and apologise for the “for the lethal chaos under his watch”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Data released by NHS England last week revealed a sharp deterioration in 999 response times in December, as well as record waits in accident and emergency departments. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The Royal College of Emergency Medicine believes 300 to 500 people a week could be dying because of the problems accessing emergency care.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n