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24
Oct
MP hits out at 'terrifying' new figures on Harrogate A&E waiting times
The number of people who waited at least 12 hours at Harrogate District Hospital's accident and emergency department has almost tripled this year, new figures have shown.
Data released by NHS England shows between February and September this year 1,475 people waited 12 hours to be admitted, transferred or discharged.
This compares with 515 people in the same period last year, which means the figure has increased by 186%.
Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, today described the statistics as "terrifying" and urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to “winterproof” health services in next week's Budget.
Mr Gordon said the lengthy waiting times were a matter of “life and death” and blamed the increase on the former Conservative governments. He said:
It’s terrifying to think that my constituents are regularly having to suffer these dangerously long delays. In many cases getting seen quickly is literally a matter of life and death.
The appalling legacy that the Conservative party has left our NHS cannot be understated. They set our health service up for winter crisis after winter crisis, with patients left strewn across hospital corridors, unable to get a bed due to their shameful neglect.
The Lib Dems have called on Ms Reeves to launch a £1.5 billion ringfenced fund to reduce the strain on the NHS during winter.
Mr Gordon said:
It is now down to the new government to rise to this challenge and protect people here in Harrogate and Knaresborough from the potentially grave consequences of yet another winter crisis.
That must start at the Budget, with the chancellor taking urgent steps to winterproof our local health services and ensure this is the last winter crisis any of us here in Harrogate and Knaresborough have to endure.
The Stray Ferret has contacted Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust for comment.
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