Wes Streeting responds to new figures showing a record 6.6 million people are waiting for planned NHS care in England

Wes Streeting MP, Labour's Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary, responding to new figures from NHS England showing that 6.6 million patients are waiting for planned NHS care, the highest number on record, and the number of patients waiting more than a year increasing to 331,623, said:

"One in every nine people is now waiting for NHS care, and they are waiting longer than ever before.

"Hundreds of thousands of patients have now been waiting for care through three Conservative health secretaries. The only discussion of the NHS in the Conservative leadership election seems to be about how much they plan to cut it by. We may have a new prime minister in two months’ time, but only a Labour government will give Britain the fresh start it needs.

"Labour will rebuild our NHS with the staff, equipment, and modern technology needed to treat patients on time again."