Victoria Atkins was challenged to name some health trusts meeting their targets to cut waiting lists.
But the health secretary said she was wanted to be “even handed” and declined to name any individual trusts hitting the expected standard for treating 80% of people in casualty within four hours.
BBC Breakfast’s Naga Munchetty pressed her to back up her claims on which areas of England were performing well, adding that viewers across the country contacted the programme about their own experiences.