‘A mess’ - that’s how the British Medical Association described the state of the NHS that Labour inherited after our general election win in July 2024.
Of course, many people knew that already. The Conservatives let waiting lists soar to a record level of nearly eight million, with 300,000 people waiting longer than a year for treatment.
The number of people waiting over two weeks for a GP appointment also increased by one million during their last five years in power.
It’s no surprise, then, that on their watch patient satisfaction with the NHS fell to the lowest level it has ever been - and it’s no surprise that the BMA said we inherited ‘a mess’.
We’ve wasted no time in starting to clean this mess up.
The Labour government saved half a million appointments and operations by quickly ending the resident doctors’ strikes. We’ve provided three million extra appointments since we took office and we’ve ensured that waiting lists have fallen six months in a row.
We’re committed to ending the all-too familiar ‘8am scramble’ for a doctor’s appointment. That’s why we’ve hired 1,500 more GPs, and why we’re setting up more surgical hubs and community diagnostic centres - like the one in Barnsley, that was recently praised on the BBC.
These hubs and centres will allow more people to be treated outside of hospital and give patients greater choice in how they are treated.
We also want to protect our hard-working NHS staff who do a brilliant job up and down the country - and especially here in Barnsley. In fact, Barnsley Hospital recently had three finalists in regional healthcare awards, and its portering team - who do invaluable but often unseen work - was named the best in the country.
These people dedicate their lives to helping others, so it is only right that we have zero tolerance for violence and harassment directed towards them. That’s why we’ve brought in new rules to make Trust boards more accountable for the safety of staff.
The Labour Party will always protect NHS staff and we will always protect the NHS; the same cannot be said of the other parties.
The Conservatives broke the NHS and Nigel Farage has said that he’s open to bringing in an insurance-based system, like they have in the USA.
Only Labour will protect and properly fund the NHS and take care of its hardworking staff.
For most people, the Easter weekend is an opportunity to enjoy the long weekend, to get a decent break, and to spend time with family, friends, and loved ones. Yet many NHS workers will - as ever - be hard at work this weekend.
