Miliband attacks Conservative record on GP access

Ed Miliband is on the road, speaking to an audience in Bristol about NHS waiting times.

The Labour leader claimed that one of the reasons behind the problems in England’s A&E departments is that coalition policy has led to 600 fewer GP surgeries staying open at evenings and weekends.

He said: “The NHS cannot go forward if queues to see your GP are stretching backwards and I believe that Britain can do a lot better than people waiting day after day for basic healthcare. That’s what our plan will do.”

Labour have said that the coalition had cut back Labour’s extended hours scheme, introduced in 2009, which funded 77% of surgeries to open on evenings and weekends.

However Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the Labour figures were “wrong”, claiming the Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund covered 1,100 practices and helped 7.5 million patients see GPs in the evenings and at weekends. Prime Minister David Cameron promoted a policy of through-the-week GP care in last Thursday’s television debate.

He is asked why he is not sharing a platform with Tony Blair and replies: “It’s simple, he can speak for himself”. Asked if he’s happy to have his 100% support says “yes”.