UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Health Minister Karin Smyth warns doctor strikes are slowing NHS progress, but waiting lists have fallen by 200,000, and access is improving.
As reported by Sky News, a health minister has warned that protests by resident doctors are slowing progress in reducing NHS waiting lists.
What did Karin Smyth say about NHS waiting lists and strikes?
During an interview, when asked if extra budget spending could be wasted amid strikes, Karin Smyth responded,
“The chancellor protected the NHS and other public services in the last budget. And that as you’ve outlined, does involve those hard choices. But it is yielding results.”
She said,
“Those waiting lists are coming down by over 200,000. We had more GP’s put into post. Access is improving. It’s got a long way to go, we understand that.”
The health minister added,
“It is really difficult. The strikes are really difficult. They do knock that some of that improvement off course. But those green shoots are there, and I think people are starting to feel that. And staff are starting to feel that the pressure is huge. We’re going into winter. You know, we understand all of those problems.”
When questioned whether her boss, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, could become Prime Minister soon, Ms Smyth laughed.
She continued,
“Wes Streeting is absolutely focussed on driving us all in the health team to do what we’re doing, and that is yielding results.”
What did Karin Smyth say about new NHS neighbourhood health centres?
Karin Smyth said,
“Neighbourhood Health Centres fundamentally reimagine how the NHS works – bringing care closer to home and making sure the NHS is organised around patients’ needs, not the other way round.”
She stated,
“The Chancellor is rightly boosting investment in the NHS after we inherited a health service on its knees – with Lord Darzi’s investigation uncovering a £40 billion black hole. But funding will only get us so far. We need to use every measure available to us, which is why we’re leveraging in private investment to construct some of these centres, making the most of all expertise and every tool at our disposal.”
The health minister added,
“Our new NHS Rebuild approach will give the health service the investment it needs, repurposing and building a new generation of Neighbourhood Health Centres across the country. It will go hand in hand with reform and efficiency – ensuring proper value for money for taxpayers.”
How did Chancellor Rachel Reeves plan to improve NHS access and cut waiting times?
At tomorrow’s budget, Rachel Reeves will announce plans for 250 new local one-stop-shop health centres.
The new centres will house nurses, dentists, GPs, and pharmacists under one roof, reducing the need for patients to travel for care. These facilities will join the Neighbourhood Health Service, aiming to treat more patients outside hospitals and ensure fair access to care.
The new initiative aims to improve GP access and care for patients with chronic conditions in deprived areas. The scheme will expand over time, with some centres repurposing existing NHS buildings and others being newly constructed.
In the budget, the chancellor will unveil £300m for NHS technology, introducing new digital tools to help staff work more efficiently and reduce waiting times.
Ms Reeves said,
“At the budget, I’ll set out how we’ll deliver on the country’s priorities to cut NHS waiting times, cut debt and cut the cost of living. We’re driving down waiting lists by bringing healthcare to patients’ doorsteps and turbocharging NHS productivity with cutting-edge technology.”
She continued,
“Our record investment, combined with ruthless efficiency and reform, will deliver the better care and better outcomes our NHS patients deserve.”
What did Karin Smyth say about Rachel Reeves ahead of the budget?
Karin Smyth said Rachel Reeves is “upbeat” and “on great form” ahead of the budget, following a Labour MPs meeting where she was “rallying the troops.”
She added,
“I know there’s a lot of interest when people aren’t in the room for Parliamentary Labour Party gatherings, but I think it’s important that she comes, that senior ministers always come and talk to colleagues, particularly before big events. It’s a regular Monday night event, and it was great to have her.”
What did the PAC report show about NHS waiting times under Labour?
The Public Accounts Committee warns that billions of pounds have failed to reduce NHS waiting times as planned. Its findings raise serious doubts over Labour’s plan to “fix the NHS” and deliver hospital care within 18 weeks by 2029.
The PAC report warned that efforts to speed up tests and treatments have “stalled” and criticised Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Health Secretary Wes Streeting for a costly NHS shake-up in England.
The report showed that many patients continue to wait longer than 18 weeks for non-urgent care, with some waits exceeding a year, and over six weeks for diagnostic tests.
It added,
“Progress in reducing waiting times appears to have stalled, with the total elective care waiting list standing at 7.4m clinical pathways.”
The PAC’s findings could alarm ministers, who face pressure over NHS waiting times, as Reform UK has overtaken Labour as the party with the most trusted healthcare policies.
What is the NHS 10-year plan?
The NHS 10 Year Plan, officially titled “Fit for the Future,” is the UK government’s long-term strategy to transform health services. This aims to move care out of hospitals and closer to people’s homes by creating new “Neighbourhood Health Centres.”
Under this proposal, the NHS App will become a “front door” to the health service, allowing patients to manage appointments and access health records.
The plan includes restructuring the NHS itself, including giving high-performing hospitals more autonomy, and refocusing regional health bodies on strategic planning.
