Elective Care Waiting Times 2025-02-11
2025-02-11
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The Green Party member notes constituent concerns about long waits for care, including one-year delays for dementia referrals and an 18-month wait for cardiology reviews.
What progress has been made in reducing waiting times for elective care? Given the concern over private sector involvement in NHS operations, can you outline longer-term thinking on privatisation of the national health service?
The NHS has always worked constructively with the independent sector, but ideological concerns should not come before patient care. The Government is investing in the NHS; however, the Green party’s manifesto on the NHS would require an additional annual expenditure of £8 billion in the first full year of this Parliament, rising to £28 billion later. The Chancellor has just delivered a Budget that delivers £26 billion of additional investment.
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Assessment & feedback
The Secretary of State did not provide specific details on long-term thinking regarding privatisation and its impact on NHS waiting times.
Ideological Hobby Horses
Complaining About Investment
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Labour welcomes the new Minister and emphasizes the need for Opposition parties to back their investment plan in the NHS.
Hundreds of constituents are on waiting lists for knee and hip operations. While the Green Party says it wants to see those lists reduced, they have opposed Labour’s Budget with record investment in the NHS and its agreement with the independent sector to bring down the backlog. Does the Secretary of State agree that it is time for Opposition parties to stop wishing for a reduction in waiting lists and start backing Labour’s credible plan?
I wholeheartedly agree with my hon. Friend that it is time for Opposition parties to stop wishing for a reduction in waiting lists and start backing Labour’s credible plan, given the Greens’ experience in local government where they cannot clear bins let alone NHS waiting lists.
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Assessment & feedback
The Secretary of State did not provide details on supporting Labour's plan but criticized the Green party instead.
Clearing Bins
Opposition To Investment
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The Conservative MP highlights an article in The BMJ criticising one of the examples given in the Government’s elective reform plan, arguing it was inappropriate.
The Labour Government’s elective reform plan mentions 10 straight-to-test pathways. Can the Secretary of State name them or give one example?
It is ridiculous to criticise this Government’s elective reform plan. When the Conservative party was in office, it delivered the longest waiting lists in NHS history. I am happy to admit that a case study featuring Sarah's unnecessary radiation treatment was removed from all online and future drafts after GPs pointed out its inappropriate nature.
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Assessment & feedback
The Secretary of State did not provide specific examples of the pathways but acknowledged an error in one case study.
Highest Waiting Lists
Google Pop Quiz
Response accuracy