NHS targets on A&E waiting times and nurse staffing levels axed to protect Jeremy Hunt

‘A string of NHS targets for waiting times and staffing levels were scrapped today to save Jeremy Hunt from embarrassing headlines.

Figures for A&E waiting times will now be published monthly rather than weekly and the watchdog NICE will no longer monitor nursing numbers.

NHS England is also scrapping the target that 90% of admitted patients should start consultant-led treatment within 18 weeks of referral.

The decision to strip NICE of its responsibility for staffing levels was slammed by Sir Robert Francis, who led the investigation into the Mid Staffs scandal.’

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