Wes Streeting is blasted over plans for a 'talking shop' on NHS future

by · Mail Online

Critics hit out last night over the Government’s plans for a public consultation about the NHS, saying it could drag on for months. 

Health Secretary Wes Streeting wants to field the views of patients and staff about the future of the health service over the next ten years. 

However, it was met with scepticism, with the Liberal Democrats warning that the consultation could become a ‘talking shop’ and the Tories saying it was wasting time. 

In the latest development to hit the under-pressure health service, ambulances have been instructed to leave patients in hospital corridors after 45 minutes to improve response times. 

NHS England is encouraging services to consider implementing the ‘drop and go’ approach used in London, known for reducing response times for heart attacks and strokes. But A&E doctors have argued that it is unacceptable to leave patients without a proper handover. 

Critics have hit out at Wes Streeting's plans to consult patients and staff about the future of the health service over the next ten years
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey said the exercise 'risks becoming a talking shop'

On his proposed plan, expected to be published in spring 2025, Mr Streeting said it will shift more care from hospitals. A network of local health centres would house GPs, nurses, physiotherapists and health visitors under one roof to better serve patients. 

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Patients could be FINED for missing NHS appointments in an attempt to stop no shows, Wes Streeting says 

But Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey was unimpressed. He said: ‘The Government must show the ambition needed to fix the awful damage done by the Conservatives to the NHS and care, or this exercise risks becoming a talking shop.’ 

And Tory health spokesman Victoria Atkins added: ‘It has taken Labour 14 years in opposition and nearly four months in government to come up with the idea of a consultation that will drag on for months. 

'All Labour has achieved in government is stopping new hospitals being built, scrapping NHS productivity improvements, overseeing GPs entering industrial action, creating a health cronyism scandal and telling nurses and midwives they are not valued as much as their resident doctor colleagues. 

‘Rather than wasting more time, this Government must put patients first by delivering the capital projects and productivity reforms that we promised and funded to reform the NHS.’ 

Announcing the consultation, Sir Keir Starmer said: ‘My mum worked for the NHS, my sister worked for the NHS, and my wife still works for the NHS. 

Tory health spokesperson Victoria Atkins said the Government should focus on delivering capital projects, rather than 'a consultation that will drag on for months'
Sir Keir Starmer said it was 'time to roll up our sleeves' and fix the broken system in the health service (file photo)
Mr Streeting also refused to rule out introducing fines for patients who miss NHS appointments (file photo)

‘So I know first-hand how difficult it has been for staff, and for patients battling against a broken system for over a decade. But it’s time to roll up our sleeves and fix it.’ 

Mr Streeting said: ‘When I was diagnosed with kidney cancer, the NHS saved my life, as it has for so many people across our country. 

‘We all owe the NHS a debt of gratitude for a moment in our lives when it was there for us, when we needed it. Now we have a chance to repay that debt.’ 

Mr Streeting refused to rule out introducing fines for patients who miss NHS appointments. While insisting it was not something he was considering now, he said he would be ‘more open-minded’ if it was still a problem in the future.