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Jeremy Hunt became the longest-serving Health Secretary in our history on Sunday.

And stats show his calamitous 2,099-day reign has seen soaring waiting times, cancelled ops, bed shortages and a 100,000 staff shortfall.

Writing exclusively for the Sunday Mirror, Shadow Health Minister Justin Madders today asks: “How has this master of incompetence kept his job?

“Perhaps Theresa May is so weak she cannot afford any more ex-ministers on the backbenches. We are used to Tory ministers taking no responsibility for their shortcomings.”

(Image: PA)

Mr Hunt was appointed on September 4 2012.

Since then the number of people waiting more than four hours in A&E is up 842 per cent. Then 9,022 people waited more than four hours – in March it was 76,054.

An extra 1.4 million people are on NHS waiting lists compared to 2012.

And the number of people waiting over two weeks for urgent cancer treatment has more than doubled from 53,738 in 2013 to 113,373 in 2018.

(Image: Getty)

There are 7,000 fewer beds available in NHS hospitals now than in 2012

And bed occupancy at the end of last year was the highest recorded.

Stats also show the waiting time measure for consultant-led treatment is at 22 weeks, and has been above the 18-week target since early 2016.

Mr Madders said: “Nearly six years of Jeremy Hunt has taken the NHS to a place we haven’t seen since the last Tory Government nearly finished it.”

Labour's view

By Justin Madders

Shadow Health Minister

Our NHS nears its 70th birthday in crisis – yet Jeremy Hunt today becomes its longest-serving Health Secretary ever.

How has this master of incompetence kept his job for five years and 273 days of failure? Of successive unprecedented winter crises? Of an extra 1.4m people on the waiting lists? Of an 842 per cent rise in people waiting over four hours in A&E? Or a staff shortfall of 100,000?

Perhaps Theresa May is so weak she cannot afford any more ex-ministers on the backbenches. We are used to Tory ministers taking no responsibility for their shortcomings. From education, to transport, to law and order, they wreak havoc and misery without consequence on hardworking people. But it’s in health where failure is most pronounced.

(Image: Ellesmere Port Pioneer)

After nearly six years Jeremy Hunt has taken the NHS to a place we haven’t seen since the last Tory Government nearly finished it. Waiting times for ops are out of control – the list will hit 5million people if action is not taken.

Many can’t see a dentist regularly. Or a GP. Yet the private sector gets £9bn a year. Heroic staff suffer too. An eight-year pay freeze adds to huge pressure.

The Tories’ foolish plan to scrap student nurse bursaries will worsen the staff shortfall. Hopefully Jeremy Hunt’s catalogue of calamity will end soon.

Apprentice nurse spots 97 per cent empty

Exclusive

By Keir Mudie

Government is missing its own targets for recruiting apprentice nurses, with a shortfall of 97%.

Ministers pledged to find 1,000 apprentices a year. Just 30 have taken up the scheme in its first year.

It follows Government plans unveiled in 2016 to use apprentices to cover a fall in nurse numbers due to axing student bursaries.

Angela Rayner, Shadow Education Secretary, said: “Now, they are refusing to re-commit to their target after falling short by 97%.

“Patients are suffering the consequences.” Last month Government forced through a vote to scrap postgraduate bursaries.

Axing them for nursing under­­graduates already led to 700 fewer students joining courses this year. Damian Hinds, Educat­­ion Secretary, said: “Appren­­­ticeships are empl­­oyer-led, so the NHS takes the lead.”