To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what factors his Department ascribes the increase in the number of people waiting more than four hours in accident and emergency departments indicated in the most recent quarterly figures. (188178)

The A and E data at national level do not allow us to examine causes of poor performance.

It is for primary care trusts and strategic health authorities (SHAs) to work with national health service organisations to ensure they are providing an appropriate level of high quality care for patients. SHAs are actively engaged in this and working closely with challenged organisations to address issues that may arise which affect performance. These issues vary depending on local circumstances. All trusts need to be working to this operational standard.