Ashworth calls for top down NHS reorganisation to be abandoned

Ashworth will call on the new Secretary of State to scrap the re-organisation and instead prioritise bringing down waiting lists, and supporting the NHS to deal with the ongoing threat posed by the Delta variant.

Speaking ahead of the Secretary of State’s first statement in the Commons later today, Jonathan Ashworth, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, said:

“This is a moment of great pressure on the NHS. Waiting lists are at 5 million, 300,000 people are waiting over 12 months for treatment and cancer and mental health waiting times are growing. Not to mention the ongoing infections and pressure on hospitals due to covid.

“This is not the moment to be rushing into a flawed top-down reorganisation. In recent weeks I’ve heard increasing worries from NHS and local government leaders that the plans are ill-thought through.

“Sajid Javid needs to make clear that he will spend his time concentrating on covid, sorting out social care, bringing down waiting lists and giving the NHS workforce the pay rise they deserve rather than foisting an unworkable top down reorganisation on the NHS.”