Daniel Zeichner, MP for Cambridge, has today (31st March 2017) criticised the decision to shelve NHS 18-week waiting time targets.

Simon Stevens, NHS England’s chief executive, has announced that the NHS will no longer be required to treat 92 per cent of patients in England for non-urgent treatments within 18 weeks. That means longer waiting times for treatments such as minor surgery, cataract operations, and hip replacements.

Daniel Zeichner said: “With the NHS struggling to cope under increasing pressure, we are seeing more and more targets being missed so today’s news does not come as a surprise.

“Here in Cambridge we are seeing Addenbrooke’s barely coping with the extra demand, with only 81.2% of patients treated with the four hour window at A&E. This is not good enough and the people of Cambridge deserve better.

“For the Government to avoid the tough questions on NHS funding yet again at the Budget shows how weak their commitment to the NHS really is. The 18 week target has been scrapped in all but name, yet more collateral damage of this Government’s serial underfunding of our NHS.”