Labour presses government for NHS rescue plan

The Labour Party is calling for an NHS rescue plan that would see patient care prioritised in the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

New research has revealed the huge increase in waiting lists over the past 12-months, with hundreds of thousands of people waiting more than the 18-week maximum for treatment and thousands more waiting over a year.

According to Labour, over 366,194 patients are waiting more than a year for treatment – representing one in 12 people on the waiting list. In January 2020, the number waiting over a year was just 1,643.

The number of people waiting more than 18-weeks for treatment has risen in all 18 treatment areas, leaving thousands of extra patients waiting months for surgery or hospital care.

Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth has called for an NHS recovery plan, including: a quarterly plan from ministers on action being taken to bring down waiting lists; an NHS rescue plan to ensure the NHS has the staff and modern equipment to deliver the cancer care, surgery and mental health care patients deserve; for the government to strengthen the NHS constitution to eliminate waits over 52-weeks and offer a cast iron guarantee; and a fair pay rise for NHS staff.

Ashworth said: “Years of underfunding and cutbacks meant we entered the crisis with waiting lists growing and targets for cancer treatment missed. But there shouldn’t have to be a choice between Covid care and cancer care.

“It is now crucial that ministers provide hospitals, our NHS staff and patients with a fully resourced rescue plan to bring waiting lists down. That starts with giving our NHS staff a fair pay rise and recruiting the extra doctors and nurses we need for the future. And we need the very best cutting edge technology and equipment to deliver the standards of care people deserve. Leaving patients in limbo waiting for surgery risks their condition worsening leading to permanent disability, loss of livelihood and tragically for some loss of life.

“Labour will be using our voice and vote in Parliament to demand action to bring waiting lists down and deliver the very best cancer and mental health care.”