Streeting Blasts Tories for NHS Decline, Starmer Promises Major Reform in Upcoming Speech

Wes Streeting accuses Conservatives of mismanaging NHS legacy, ahead of a significant speech by Sir Keir Starmer. According to a report Streeting initiated, the NHS suffered due to austerity measures, a disastrous restructuring in 2012, and weak pandemic preparedness, leaving it in a dire state.

Political correspondent @fayebrownSky

Thursday, September 12, 2024, 9:

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The Health Secretary accused the Conservatives of wasting a valuable legacy with the NHS as he introduced three essential changes to overhaul the system.

Wes Streeting conveyed to Sky News that during Tony Blair's tenure, the Labour government achieved the shortest waiting times and the highest levels of patient satisfaction ever recorded in the NHS’s history.

He criticized, "It's outrageous how the Conservatives have wasted the valuable legacy they were given over the past 14 years, without taking any accountability for it."

Live politics update: Prime Minister vows major NHS overhaul in upcoming speech

Mr. Streeting addressed the media following the release of an independent report he initiated, which revealed that the NHS is facing a "critical condition", characterized by unprecedented waiting lists and excessive hospital budget expenditures.

Following the recent investigation, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is scheduled to deliver a speech today where he will caution that the health service needs to "reform or perish," and he will unveil a decade-long strategy to overhaul it.

Elaborating on potential transformations, Mr. Streeting emphasized that the NHS requires three "essential" modifications.

This involves transitioning care from hospitals to local communities to enable quicker and earlier diagnoses; enhancing funding for technology to build a "digital NHS"; and addressing health issues within the community.

He commented, "This is why today's report is crucial; it seems paradoxical, but while it reflects on our past actions and identifies the problem, it also assists us in moving forward and acknowledging our journey to this point."

The research, conducted by Lord Darzi, a peer and surgeon, claims that the NHS is grappling with increased demands for services as people experience prolonged periods of poor health while aging. This challenge is compounded by low hospital productivity and declining morale among staff.

The text denounces the governance of the Conservative and coalition administrations, highlighting the consequences of austerity measures, a severe lack of funding, and the restructuring of the NHS following the 2012 Health and Social Care Act, which Lord Darzi referred to as "an unparalleled disaster internationally."

He said that the COVID pandemic arrived just as resilience had reached an unprecedented low.

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Mr. Streeting compared the findings to the Conservatives not only neglecting to repair the roof when the weather was favorable, but also exacerbating the situation by recklessly endangering the house.

"He then noted that the pandemic was the spark," he added.

When questioned about the feasibility of preparing such a comprehensive report in just nine weeks, Mr. Streeting explained that Lord Darzi consulted with frontline workers, organizational leaders, and think tanks, and was also granted unrestricted access to data from both the NHS and the Department of Health.

In morning discussions, he cautioned that the NHS would face bankruptcy without reforms, but dismissed the idea of generating funds via taxes on salt or sugar.

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Shadow Health Secretary Victoria Atkins, speaking to Sky News, emphasized that she has always been open about the challenges faced by the NHS, responding to inquiries about whether she felt shame regarding the condition her party had left it in.

She criticized Labour for "seeking publicity" by gradually releasing the report, advocating for a "meaningful discussion about the future of the NHS" instead.

Lord Darzi, who previously served as a Labour health minister before becoming an independent peer, firmly stated that the NHS can be improved. He emphasized that his conclusions do not challenge the foundational ideals of a health service funded by taxpayers and free when accessed.

This morning, the Prime Minister is scheduled to unveil his ambitious proposals for a comprehensive overhaul of the NHS, described as the most significant since its inception.

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He will express that the process will neither be "simple nor swift" and that "temporary fixes" are insufficient.

He will state: "Ordinary workers cannot bear higher costs, thus we must choose between reforming or failing."

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