§ 17. Mr. PicklesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the time that patients are waiting for treatment at hospital accident and emergency departments. [110869]
§ Ms StuartWe are tackling waiting times in Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments as a matter of priority, backed by the biggest investment in A&E services in the history of the National Health Service. Long waits for treatment in A&E departments are unacceptable. We have issued guidance requiring senior managers and clinicians to intervene personally to resolve the problem if long waits start to occur.