The Prime Minister updated
Cabinet on the situation in Sudan. He said Government had been
working at pace over the weekend both to bring about an end to
violence and to evacuate diplomatic staff who were facing a
specific threat to their safety. He paid tribute to those
involved in the successful operation. He said that in parallel
the Foreign Office and MoD have been working on ways to support
British nationals who wish to leave Sudan and that he had now
authorised a wider evacuation plan.
The Foreign Secretary said the
UK had been closely involved in work to secure a ceasefire.
However he emphasised that the situation on the ground remained
volatile and dangerous, requiring careful monitoring. He said
that Foreign Office, Home Office and MoD staff were working
together to inform British nationals about the plan to provide
flights from Sudan.
He added that alongside this
work the Government was continuing to develop alternative options
to provide nationals with routes out of the country.
The Defence Secretary updated
Cabinet on more of the operational details of the evacuation plan
and the close collaboration with other allies.
Cabinet then turned to a
discussion on digitalising the NHS. The PM said that this
Government is taking forward ambitious plans to transform health
and social care by cutting NHS waiting lists; improving urgent
and emergency care; and increasing primary care access. He added
that to achieve this, he wants patients to be in control and have
access to the information that allows them to make informed
choices and hold services to account, including through greater
use of the NHS app.
The Health and Care Secretary
updated Cabinet on the wide range of work taking place to use
digital tools to improve patient care and cut waiting lists. He
highlighted the wider use of virtual wards – using technology to
treat patients in their own homes – and AI which is already
helping clinicians spot cancer in patients at an earlier
stage.
Cabinet discussed the potential
for technology to improve patient choice and cut waiting times.
The Prime Minister concluded by saying he is encouraged to see
the significant amount of work that is taking place across the
health and care system to digitise and make full use of the
technology available.
