No more money for NHS without reform, says Starmer

LONDON: There will be no more money for the NHS without reform, the Prime Minister has said, as he acknowledged that not all of his policies will prove universally popular.Sir Keir Starmer said his 10-year plan for the NHS would be about changing it into a “neighbourhood health service”.

He said this would mean “more tests, scans, healthcare offered on high streets and town centres, improved GP access, bringing back the family doctor, offering digital consultations for those that want them, virtual wards and more patients safely looked after in their own homes where we can deal with problems early before they are off work sick and before they need to go to hospital”.

Sir Keir also pledged to drive up productivity in hospitals so more patients can be seen and boost efforts to prevent ill health rather than just treat it.Addressing the King’s Fund annual conference in London, the Prime Minister acknowledged that tackling problems in the NHS will take a long time, but said work had already begun in some areas.

He also committed to driving up the use of technology, giving the example of the urgent need to speed up test results in A&E. He said: “Reform does not mean just putting more money in. “Of course, even in difficult financial circumstances, a Labour Government will always make the investment in the NHS that is needed, but we have to fix the plumbing before we turn on the taps.

“So, hear me when I say this, no more money without reform.“I’m not prepared to see even more of your money spent on agency staff who cost £5,000 a shift, on appointment letters which arrive after the appointment, or on paying for people to be stuck in hospital just because they can’t get the care they need in the community.

“Tonight, there will be 12,000 patients in that very position – that’s enough to fill 28 hospitals. “NHS staff are working harder than ever but productivity has fallen because patients can’t be discharged.

“Clinicians are spending their time trying to find beds rather than treating more patients. “That isn’t just solved by more money, it’s solved by reform.”Sir Keir was responding to a damning report from respected surgeon and former health minister Lord Darzi, which lays bare the problems in the health service.

The rapid review, carried out in nine weeks, says the health service “is in critical condition, but its vital signs are strong”.It sets out widespread issues, including a failure to cut waits in A&E, missed targets for treatment and cancer care, alongside low productivity in hospitals despite investment in staffing.

The Prime Minister said he would “accept the challenge” of fixing the NHS but warned it would be “measured in years, not months”. Asked what he would say to patients who are ill now about how he will fix the NHS given it will require time and money, Sir Keir said: “We’re going to fix this with the first steps, but we’re going to do the long-term change.”

He added: “I accept the challenge to me, which is that it’s going to take a long time, it’s going to be measured in years, not months, and we need to have something to say for someone who is ill now, which is getting the NHS back on its feet. “But we can’t duck the long-term change.”