Displaying items by tag: reform needed
Starmer responds to damning report on NHS
A major report by Lord Darzi, a widely respected surgeon and former health minister, has highlighted serious issues facing the NHS. The rapid review, completed in nine weeks, reveals that the nation's health has worsened, with rising demand for healthcare driven by poor housing, low income, and insecure jobs. Waiting targets for surgery, cancer care, A&E, and mental health services are persistently missed. GP services are overwhelmed, cancer survival rates lag behind other countries, and progress in heart disease treatment has stalled. The budget is inefficiently spent, with too much focused on hospitals and not enough on community care. Workforce challenges include a 5% drop in community nurses and nearly 20% fewer health visitors. The NHS is struggling with outdated equipment, crumbling infrastructure, and disengaged staff. Sir Keir Starmer has responded to the report by saying that the NHS is ‘broken but not beaten’ and announcing a ten-year plan to reform the service drastically. See