Jeremy Hunt: Wales hasn't hit A&E target for eight years

Wales has not hit its accident and emergency target for eight years, England's Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has told MPs.

He was responding to a question from Pontypridd MP Owen Smith, who accused him of "sowing confusion" by suggesting patients attending A&E with less serious problems may no longer be guaranteed to be seen in four hours.

Mr Hunt said that "in Wales they haven't hit the A&E target for eight years, we are not going to let that happen in England."

A Welsh Government spokesman said: "In Wales, more than eight out of 10 people spend less than four hours in emergency care facilities from their arrival until admission, transfer or discharge.

"Rather than trying to deflect attention from the situation or blaming those who run the NHS in Wales we are focused on improving patient care."