Health Secretary Wes Streeting urged NHS leaders in England to focus on patient safety even if it results in a decline in performance against the four-hour A&E target this winter. During a meeting in London, he acknowledged the significant pressures hospitals are currently facing, including full bed capacity and long ambulance wait times. While the government reassured the NHS that it would not face penalties for falling short of targets, they emphasized the need for prioritizing patients based on clinical need and reducing ambulance delays.