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Jeremy Hunt defended his 'rash and misleading' claims about NHS deaths - by misquoting a study twice during a TV interview.

The Health Secretary was under fire over his claim that 11,000 more people die in hospital at weekends because staffing levels are lower.

The claim was slammed by doctors, who accused him of misrepresenting a paper written by NHS England Medical Director Sir Bruce Keogh for the British Medical Journal.

But today, Mr Hunt twice tried to back up his claim by again misquoting Sir Bruce's paper.

(Image: PA)

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr: "He actually said that it would be rash and misleading to say you could avoid every single one of those deaths."

But Sir Bruce did not use the words "every single one", nor did he specify whether any of the deaths could be put down to reduced weekend staffing.

In fact, the paper reads: "It is not possible to ascertain the extent to which these excess deaths may be preventable, to assume that they are avoidable would be rash and misleading."

Later in the interview, Mr Hunt said it was important to be "very careful with our words."

(Image: GETTY)

Junior doctors are set to go on strike on Wednesday, over new contracts proposed by the Health Secretary.

Labour's Shadow Health Secretary Heidi Alexander today described Mr Hunt's handling of negotiations over the new contracts as an "utter shambles."

Speaking to Sky News' Dermot Murnaghan, she called for the Health Secretary to make concessions on the definition of 'unsocial hours' in the new deal, which he has threatened to force on the Health Service if they don't agree to it.

Currently weekends and evenings after 7pm are designated 'unsocial'.

But the new proposals would extend 'normal' evening working hours to 10pm and would include Saturdays.

She slammed Mr Hunt for misrepresenting academic studies on weekend mortality, and warned the NHS could see a mass exodus of talented junior doctors to Canada and Australia.

She added: "He has to stop behaving like a recruiting sergeant for Australian hospitals, and start behaving like the Secretary of State for our NHS."

(Image: Philip Toscano/PA Wire)

Today's misquoting comes after Mr Hunt was accused of misleading Parliament by making the claim three times.

In October, he told the Commons: "There are 11,000 excess deaths because we do not staff our hospitals properly at weekends.

"I think it is my job, and the Government’s job, to deal with that, and to stand up for patients."

Dr Johann Malawana, the British Medical Association's junior doctor committee chair said: “Junior doctors already work around the clock, seven days a week and they do so under their existing contract.

"If the government want more seven-day services then, quite simply, they need more doctors, nurses and diagnostic staff, and the extra investment needed to deliver it.

“Rather than addressing these issues, Jeremy Hunt is instead ploughing ahead with proposals that are unfair and could see many junior doctors voting with their feet.

"We already have a situation where unprecedented numbers of junior doctors are considering their options and even leaving the NHS, how can the government deliver more seven-day services if there are even greater staff shortages in the NHS?

"The Health Secretary is also still refusing to acknowledge that he has scared patients and the public, and angered NHS staff by misrepresenting statistics."

The Department of Health declined to comment.