Cameron takes charge of emergency planning to avert A&E crisis this winter with live updates on NHS waiting times Prime Minister demands updates on pressures in the NHS David Cameron has taken personal charge of trying to avert an A&E winter crisis. The Prime Minister has ordered live updates on waiting times and treatments to ensure the NHS can cope with a surge in demand as temperatures fall. It follows warnings that the number of patients waiting up to 12 hours on trolleys has almost doubled in two years, with Labour seize on the figures to claim the health service is struggling to cope. Charge: David Cameron has asked for live updates on waiting times in the NHS Downing Street has ordered unprecedented levels of planning for the winter, including £500million for the most stretched A&E departments to cope over the next two years. Dr Cliff Mann, president of the College of Emergency Medicine, which represents A&E doctors, warned last week: "All the worrying indicators are up already. However, the government insists that targets for 95 per cent of people to be seen within four hours is still being met, and the average waiting time in A&E is now 50 minutes, compared to 70 minutes under Labour. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has sought to blame GPs for not seeing patients out of hours, forcing many more to go to casualty departments. Mr Cameron is now "working very closely" with Mr Hunt with "a particularly focus around A&E," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said. A&E departments can come under particular pressures during the winter period. He does want to and continues to be updated on the very latest available NHS performance statistics, including the A&E statistics. The spokesman added: "We know that A&E has seen 1.2million more people compared to three years ago, a significant increase. Over the recent period the NHS A&E departments have been meeting the 95 per cent performance measure. The Prime Minister has already announced across the next two years £500million of extra resources, particularly targeted at those trusts with the A&E departments that may face the greatest pressure. Labour leader Ed Miliband has accused Mr Cameron of being "clueless" about the winter crisis facing the NHS.