NHS not 'on the brink', says health secretary
The A&E crisis and findings of the Francis report do not spell a "system on the brink", health secretary Jeremy Hunt said as he outlined his approach to tackling both issues to health and care leaders.
Addressing delegates at the NHS Confederation annual conference and exhibition, he said: "The NHS is performing well in very difficult circumstances."
As the "barometer for the whole health system", he acknowledged that A&E departments are facing "huge pressure" but coping due to "heroic efforts".