Andy Burnham MP

Andy Burnham said that safety was the most important factor in deciding the future of child heart surgery units, but urged the Government to make a quick decision about which centres needed to be closed. “Yes, you’re right about that, an... Continue to article

Andy Burnham laid the blame for the current difficulties in NHS emergency care at the door of the Prime Minister and his Government. “Well, it was a very complacent answer from the Prime Minister, and they’ve been trying to blame everybo... Continue to article

Andy Burnham said the Government’s attempts to blame a long winter for the current problems with emergency care showed that ministers had “failed to address the underlying causes” of the crisis. “It sounds a bit like their excuses on the... Continue to article

Andy Burnham accused Jeremy Hunt of attempting to "score political points" over the crisis in A&E, and called on the Health Secretary to "accept responsibility".  "The Secretary of State has dug himself into a hole. He’s been busy doing ... Continue to article

Andy Burnham criticised the Health Secretary for blaming GPs to distract from the Government’s own failings. “[Jeremy Hunt] is pointing the finger at GPs, saying it’s all their fault that A&Es are under pressure. This is to distract atte... Continue to article

  Andy Burnham said he “broadly agrees” with the Government’s plan to stop migrant “abuse” of the NHS, but questioned whether the plan was more to do with “political positioning” than a serious programme. “We haven’t seen the detail, ... Continue to article

Andy Burnham said the Coalition’s plans to cap individuals’ care costs at £72,000 were inadequate, warning the social care system was “close to collapse”. “It all sounds good, but, as ever with them, it’s dangerously out of touch with th... Continue to article

Andy Burnham criticised the Government for the number of people attending A&E departments. “Well, let’s look at the facts, the number of patients waiting more than four hours in A&E has nearly trebled since the 2010 election and Jeremy H... Continue to article

Andy Burnham said the shortage of space in A&E units was being caused by reductions to council budgets and disputed David Cameron's claims at Prime Minister's Questions. “As ever, the Prime Minister is being a bit slippery with his words... Continue to article

Andy Burnham MP said that he could see a "very strong case" for more practical input into nurse training, but he questioned the specific nature of the Government's plans. “Well, you know it’s very specific, isn’t it, a year…at the start ... Continue to article

Andy Burnham said the Government was engaging in back-door privatisation of the National Health Service. "Private companies have had a supporting role on the fringes of the NHS, but what we’re seeing now is quite different. The scale and... Continue to article

Andy Burnham said that more of the Francis report recommendations on the NHS should be implemented by Jeremy Hunt. "The time is now for the NHS to move forward, learning from those past mistakes, and while I welcome much of what Jeremy H... Continue to article