The Prime Minister announced that the government has fulfilled a crucial election promise to provide an additional two million NHS appointments in England during its first year. Between July and November last year, there were nearly 2.2 million more elective care appointments compared to the same period in 2023, as reported by the government. Despite the impact of doctor strikes during that timeframe, this milestone was reached, indicating progress in addressing healthcare needs.
Sir Keir Starmer hailed this achievement as a positive step towards reviving the NHS and reducing wait times, while Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged that there is still much work ahead. Denying any influence from the previous administration’s policies, Streeting emphasized the overall decrease in waiting lists over four consecutive months, underscoring the ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare services.
Delivering an extra two million NHS operations, procedures, and appointments annually in England was a core pledge in the Labour manifesto, encompassing a list of initial actions to be taken in office. The government attributed the additional appointments to expanded evening and weekend working schedules, resulting in a significant rise in elective care services ranging from diagnostic tests to cancer treatments. The number of operations, appointments, and tests showed an increase from the previous year, reflecting a promising trend in meeting healthcare demands.
In light of these improvements, the government stressed the importance of continuous reforms to ensure timely and efficient patient care. Plans unveiled in January to tackle the NHS backlog align with this mission, supported by additional funding for hospitals showing advancements in reducing waiting lists. While progress has been made in alleviating patient backlogs and streamlining services, challenges remain, as highlighted by recent A&E performance figures falling short of benchmarks. The government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare delivery is underscored by ongoing efforts to address existing inefficiencies and improve patient outcomes in England’s healthcare system
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