'Damning indictment' of government's NHS policies

Colchester Hospital has declared a "major incident" following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The hospital trust said the major incident is likely to last a week, and asked patients to visit accident and emergency only if they have a "serious or life-threatening condition".

The CQC raised "safeguarding concerns" following an inspection on Wednesday.

Speaking to the BBC, shadow health minister Jamie Reed said the situation in Colchester, and at other hospitals, was a "damning indictment of David Cameron's health policies and his reorganisation of the NHS".