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The number of people waiting longer than they should for hospital care have hit a five-year high in England, figures show.
- NHS England data for 2016-17 reveals 2.5 million patients waited over four hours in A&E - up from 725,000 in 2011-12.
- Those waiting over 62 days for cancer treatment topped 26,000 - nearly double the total five years ago.
- Meanwhile, over 360,000 people have now waited over 18 weeks for an operation, compared to 160,000 five years ago.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary Norman Lamb said:
“These figures reveal the dismal human cost of the NHS crisis.
“Millions of patients are waiting in distress and anxiety.
“There is a moral obligation on the government to end this shameful
neglect and address the chronic underfunding of our health service.
“Only the Liberal Democrats have put forward a credible plan to rescue
the NHS and care by putting a penny in the pound on income tax.”
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