New PM inherits an NHS in critical condition

Nigel Edwards responds to the latest monthly NHS performance figures from NHS England.

Press release

Published: 08/09/2022

Responding to the latest monthly NHS performance figures from NHS England, Nuffield Trust Chief Executive Nigel Edwards said:

“These figures clearly show what a monumental challenge faces the new Prime Minister and Health Secretary in delivering on the NHS. The total waiting list now exceeds 6.8 million, and in August over 130,000 patients were left waiting over four hours for a hospital bed. These waits are now worse than they were in previous winters. The new Prime Minister inherits an NHS in critical condition.

“This crisis has been years in the making. As our analysis published on Monday shows, the pandemic simply served to ramp up pressure on an already beleaguered health service, with staff shortages, a failure to tackle social care and inadequate investment putting the NHS on the back foot when Covid hit. Even without the pandemic we would have seen over 5 million people waiting for routine care.

“The new government is absolutely right to prioritise health and social care as a matter of urgency. Exactly how to turn this around as we go into winter will not be an easy task, but a relentless focus on the workforce, social care and hospital buildings are essential. 

“We are still waiting for detail from the new Prime Minister on how they plan to deliver for the NHS, but it has been evident for some time that more of the same isn’t going to cut it.”

Notes to editors

  1. The Nuffield Trust is an independent health think tank. We aim to improve the quality of health care in the UK by providing evidence-based research and policy analysis and informing and generating debate www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk
  2. For all queries or to arrange an interview, contact: Simon Keen: 07780 475571 / simon.keen@nuffieldtrust.org.uk; or Eleanor Martin: 07920 043676 / eleanor.martin@nuffieldtrust.org.uk

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