In response to a newly released report, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for urgent reform of the National Health Service (NHS), describing the system as being in a “critical condition.”
The report, commissioned by the government and conducted by Lord Ara Darzi, highlights severe issues with waiting times, emergency treatment delays, and overall service inefficiencies.
The report indicates that the NHS is grappling with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, struggling to meet key targets for cancer treatment, Accident & Emergency (A&E) care, and hospital services. This has led to deteriorating survival rates for cancer and heart disease, as well as growing public dissatisfaction. Darzi’s findings also criticize the impact of austerity policies from the 2010s, which he argues left the NHS underfunded and poorly equipped.
Starmer is expected to emphasize that the NHS must undergo substantial reforms or face severe consequences. He will outline a new 10-year plan aimed at transforming the NHS, focusing on digital modernization, shifting care from hospitals to community settings, and prioritizing preventative health measures. Starmer has ruled out increasing taxes to fund these changes, stating that reform is the only viable path forward.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has echoed concerns about the NHS’s sustainability, warning that without reform, the service could face financial collapse. He has committed to reallocating more funding towards primary care and community services to relieve pressure on hospitals.
The Conservative Party has criticized the government’s approach, accusing it of failing to act on its promises regarding social care reforms and new hospital constructions. Despite increased NHS budgets during the previous Conservative administration, critics argue that this was insufficient to address the system’s deep-seated issues.
The report by Lord Darzi also highlights ongoing challenges, including a backlog of 7.6 million patients waiting for treatment, rising levels of long-term illnesses, and a stressed mental health system. Darzi’s review underscores the need for substantial investment in NHS infrastructure and technology, which he believes is crucial for improving service delivery and patient outcomes.
BBC, the Guardian, and Reuters contributed to this report.
