Prime Minister promises to slash NHS wait times

Recognising the NHS is on a knifes edge, Rishi Sunak has claimed he will cut NHS wait times to ensure people are receiving the care they need.

Health professionals across the UK have expressed their anguish at the current state of the NHS. The BMJ has reported a third of junior doctors are planning to leave the health organisation to work abroad in the next 12 months and health workers across the country, including nurses and ambulances workers have voted to strike. 

Despite all the attention being focused on long waits for ambulances and in A&E, Mr Sunak, as part of his first speech in 2023, has decided to try and reduce the waiting list for routine hospital treatment.

The government has blamed high numbers of flu, COVID-19 and Strep A cases for the particular pressures being placed on the NHS, even though health leaders have warned problems are longstanding and cannot be pinned on the pandemic.

Last year, NHS England recorded 7 million people were awaiting hospital treatment – one eighth of the population – the highest number to date. Health experts believe it will be 2024 before numbers significantly drop, but progress is being made on the long waits of over 18 months.

In November 2022, the National Audit Office warned attempts to rectify struggling hospitals and tackle the backlog, were at serious risk because of staffing shortages and a lack of beds.

Alongside axing NHS wait times, the Prime Minister pledged to:

• Half inflation to ease the cost of living and provide people with financial security
• Grow the economy by creating better-paid jobs and opportunity across the country
• Ensure national debt is falling to secure a future for public services
• Passing new laws to stop small boats, making sure people who come to the UK illegally are detained

Speaking today, the Prime Minister said: ‘I want to make five promises to you today. Five pledges to deliver peace of mind. Five foundations, on which to build a better future for our children and grandchildren.’

Describing his pledges as ‘the people’s priorities’ Mr Sunak added ‘we need to change the way the country works.’

Photo by Nick Fewings