Wes Streeting warns the NHS will face ‘actual issues’ regardless of big multi-billion-pound handout anticipated in Rachel Reeves’ funds
Ploughing billions extra into the NHS will only ‘arrest the decline’, Wes Streeting admitted.
The Health Secretary warned the additional funding set to be announced in Labour’s first Budget is unlikely to deliver major improvements and will not prevent patients dying while waiting for care this winter.
Speaking at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, south London, yesterday, he said there is ‘no magic wand’ and warned the NHS will still face ‘real problems’ in the coming months.
His downbeat remarks threaten to undermine Chancellor Rachel Reeves as she prepares to focus heavily on the health service in tomorrow’s Budget.
She will unveil plans to raise capital spending on new hospitals, scanners and technology to the highest level since 2010.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting (pictured on a visit to St George’s Hospital) has warned the additional funding set to be announced in Labour’s first Budget is unlikely to deliver major improvements
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves (right) and Health Secretary Wes Streeting speak with members of the staff during a visit to St George’s Hospital in Tooting
Rachel Reeves has previously been told not to claim her Budget will ‘save the NHS’ amid warnings she will need to find billions of pounds more to actually cut waiting lists
The Chancellor will unveil plans to raise capital spending on new hospitals, scanners and technology to the highest level since 2010 (file image)
She added: ‘Unless we’ve got a growing economy with more good jobs paying decent wages, then you’re not going to be able to either improve living standards or bring in the tax revenue to improve our public services alongside the reform that’s needed.
‘But we do need that immediate injection of cash now, because otherwise we won’t be able to arrest the decline in the health service.
‘So that immediate injection, but then it’s through growth and reform that we ensure our public services are properly funded.’
The comments by Ms Reeves and Mr Streeting were met with dismay among the medical community last night.
Dr Ian Higginson, vice president of The Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said doctors and patients are facing what could be ‘the most challenging winter yet’, with many emergency departments ‘already bursting at the seams’.
He added: ‘There is no mention of short or long-term measures to ease the current unacceptable situation in our A&Es which sees vulnerable patients forced to endure extremely long waits often on trolleys in corridors.
‘These waits are associated with hundreds of excess deaths every week. That will continue to happen if nothing changes.
‘This government was elected in July, which should have been ample time to at least start to put in place measures and funding to help reduce these avoidable deaths.
‘So far we have seen words, and apparent acceptance of the status quo. We have not seen action.
‘To talk about prioritising patient safety while allowing dangerous and degrading ‘corridor care’ to continue does not make any sense.
‘Ending this shameful situation must be the priority right now.’
Meanwhile, Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrats health and social care spokesperson, said: ‘Millions are waiting in pain and distress for the care they need.
‘It is disappointing that the new government is not showing the ambition that this country needs to get the NHS back on its feet.
‘If arrested decline is the best they can do, I fear that people will only continue to wait too long for treatment.’
Dr Jennifer Dixon, chief executive of the Health Foundation think tank, said delivering 40,000 extra appointments each week for the next five years is still unlikely to be enough to ensure patients are treated within the 18-week target.
Dr Dixon added: ‘Today’s announcement should be the opening salvo in a wider programme of investment and reform.
‘We look forward to seeing more detail about the revenue budget for the NHS and how the government will meet its wider health commitments including improving access to primary care and prioritising the prevention of poor health.’
