Wes Streeting comments on NHS treatment and cancer waiting times

Wes Streeting MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on new NHS statistics which show more patients are waiting over 18 months for treatment and a sharp rise in cancer waiting times, said:

“The Conservatives have broken every pledge they made on getting NHS waits down. They were meant to have eliminated the longest waits of 18 months or two years, but under Rishi Sunak more and more patients face years of their lives being put on hold.

“Worryingly, last month saw an increase of a third more cancer patients waiting longer than is safe for appointments, diagnosis, and treatment. Patients are left waiting until their cancer becomes terminal, because of the Conservatives failure on the NHS.

“The longer we give the Conservatives, the longer patients wait.

“Labour will get the NHS back on its feet with two million more appointments and operations at evenings and weekends a year.”

Ends

Notes:

• Referral to treatment waiting time statistics:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/

• Cancer waiting times: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancer-waiting-times/