has today promised to end the
scandal of children waiting for NHS hospital treatment, as he
unveiled a new 'Child Health Action Plan' to create the
healthiest and happiest generation of children ever.
The pledge comes as research shows that British children are
increasingly falling victim to poor health outcomes that are
compounded by soaring waiting times for NHS care.
Children's waiting lists have risen considerably faster than
adult waiting lists since 2021 and are now at their highest level
since records began. NHS data reveals that there are more than
180,000 waits for children’s treatment longer than 18 weeks, and
18,000 longer than a year.
Long waits for care are particularly harmful for children as they
can impair their mental and physical development at a critical
time of life. Treatment within 18 weeks is a right for
patients set out in the NHS constitution but the NHS target has
not been met since 2016. Comparably, the last Labour Government
delivered the shortest waiting times on record.
It will be the mission of the next Labour government to end waits
for treatment of more than 18 weeks.
Starmer has signalled his determination to end the "dangerous and
damaging" reality for sick children in Tory Britain by pledging
his Labour government will ‘act immediately’ by writing to
Integrated Care Boards with strategic direction to prioritise
children’s waiting lists. As Prime Minister, Starmer will
"personally monitor" the rate at which the paediatric waiting
list is coming down and waits are brought to an end. This promise
is in stark contrast to the current Conservative government,
which in November 2023 told the NHS to focus not on efforts to
bring down waiting lists but on the financial bottom line.
The emphasis on child health will be backed by "a mission-led way
of working" in Government, which will see the creation of a
cross-departmental Mission Delivery Board that prioritises
children’s health outcomes and will include a focus on
inequalities, well-being, physical and mental health of children.
Labour has already promised bold action to tackle waiting lists
with a commitment to deliver 2 million more operations, scans and
appointments a year, with doctors and nurses paid overtime to
work on evenings and weekends to bring down the waiting backlog.
Paid for by changes to non-dom tax, a mechanism by which the
richest are able to avoid paying taxes in the UK, Labour will
also give the NHS the tools and tech it needs to see children
more quickly by doubling the number of MRI and CT scanners so
diagnosis can be quicker. Speedier diagnosis of illness will give
every child the best chance of cure and survival.
, Leader of the Labour Party,
said:
"When children are waiting over a year for treatment, that is
dangerous and damaging for their long-term health. Children
waiting for huge proportions of their life for hospital treatment
is heart breaking, causes immense stress for their parents,
presses pause on family life, and they need to end.
"The biggest casualty of the short term ‘sticking plaster’
politics of the last 14 years are our nation’s children. My
Labour government will turn this trend around, and I will
personally monitor the speed at which we do.
"My government’s mission-led way of working will deliver the
change the NHS needs, with a drive from the heart of government
to see children’s waits for treatment end."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Children's waiting times
Rising faster than adults: In October 2021, there were 298,280
child waits. In the latest NHS RTT statistics, there were
408,565. This represents a growth of 37% in two years. In October
2021, there were 5,977,573 adult waits. In the latest NHS RTT
statistics, there were 7,705,539. This represents a growth of
29%.https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/rtt-data-2023-24/#Nov23
The 18-week wait is a right
Handbook to the NHS Constitution for England:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supplements-to-the-nhs-constitution-for-england/the-handbook-to-the-nhs-constitution-for-england
Sunak’s waiting list pledge ‘downgraded’
In November 2023, this Conservative government told the NHS to
focus not on efforts to bring down waiting lists but on the
financial bottom line.https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/nov/12/rishi-sunak-waiting-list-pledge-downgraded-nhs-control-costs
