Labour Pledges to Halve 7.5 Million NHS Backlog by July 4th

May 29, 2024, 07:03 AM

The UK’s main opposition Labour Party has unveiled a comprehensive plan to address the National Health Service (NHS) backlog, pledging to halve the current waiting list of 7.5 million people within five years if elected. The plan includes restoring the statutory 18-week elective waiting time target, funding an additional 40,000 appointments, diagnostic tests, and operations per week, and utilizing spare capacity in the private sector. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer emphasized that cutting NHS waiting lists would be the first step in getting the health service back on its feet. Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting highlighted the need for radical thinking and greater use of private sector partnerships to achieve these goals. The Labour Party has committed £1.4 billion to tackle the backlog in London alone, and aims to implement evening and weekend clinics to increase capacity. The party's health strategy also promises to send in specialized teams to improve efficiency and patient care. The plan is set to be a key issue in the upcoming election on July 4th. Streeting noted that Labour is better prepared than in 1997 and aims to address the needs of 600,000 patients waiting for treatment.