Wes Streeting responds to NHS waiting lists increasing to 7.7 million people

Wes Streeting MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to NHS waiting lists increasing to 7.7 million people, said:

“Record numbers of patients are waiting for healthcare and they are left waiting unacceptably long, whether it’s for an operation, ambulance, or in A&E. For millions of patients across England, the NHS is no longer there for them when they need it.

“On the NHS, Rishi Sunak is Inaction Man, refusing to meet with doctors to end NHS strikes and adding to the Conservatives' NHS backlog, leaving patients waiting for months on end in pain and agony.

“It will take the party of the NHS to pull it out of this crisis and restore it to good health. Labour will train thousands more staff and reform the health service, so it is there for us when we need it once again.”

Ends

Notes

Waiting lists have increased by 724,000 - from 6.96 million to 7.68 million - since Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister in October.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/rtt-data-2023-24/