Bob Blackman , MP for Harrow East, has hit out at figures being used to claim that 25% of patients are waiting longer than four hours to be seen at A&Es under the London North West Healthcare NHS Trust.
The MP says that official figures provided by the Department for Health show that the figure for January 2016 is more like one in 10 for patients seen within the target of four hours by the trust, which covers Northwick Park and Ealing hospitals.
This year to date, the figure is 89.4% for patients who were seen within four hours, which he points out is vastly different than the figure of 74.6% claimed by Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas during the budget debate in parliament on March 21.
Bob Blackman MP said: "Claims that one in four people are waiting longer than four hours are utter rubbish. The official figures show that nearly 90% of patients are being seen within the target number of hours and that our hospitals are doing exceptional work in maintaining that figure.
“Of course, services are always under strain in our hospitals, and January is especially known for being an extremely busy time as the bad weather aggravates colds and chronic illnesses and leads to more people visiting A&Es.
"However, to suggest that all of the extra funding and support provided is not having an impact is simply incorrect. The performance figures show that our local hospitals are now some of the best in London."
Northwick Park Hospital recently opened three new wards providing a state-of-the-art working environment for staff and new facilities for patients.
