NHS Waiting Lists 2025-03-25
2025-03-25
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The question addresses the progress made in reducing NHS waiting times and specifically highlights the disparity between physical health and mental health treatment wait times, referencing a statistic from Lord Darzi.
I welcome that NHS waiting lists for physical health have fallen for the last five months in a row and that NHS waiting lists are down by almost 200,000 since Labour was elected, but with people who have mental health conditions eight times as likely to have to wait 18 months for treatment, what steps are the Government taking to ensure that we see the same progress in waiting times for both mental and physical health treatments? Can they deliver a parity of esteem that the Opposition failed to achieve in their 14 years in power?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his question and for his long-standing commitment to improving mental health services. Lord Darzi highlighted that those waiting over a year for mental healthcare outnumbered the entire population of Leicester. We are committed to tackling this. We will fix the broken system by recruiting an extra 8,500 mental health workers, introducing access to a specialist in every school and rolling out community Young Futures hubs in England. We will shortly be publishing before Parliament our mental health investment standard report, which will show that when it comes to mental health this Government are putting their money where their mouth is.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question relates to a specific application for the creation of a new branch surgery in Burton, Christchurch, which has been outstanding for over four months.
Waiting times for patients living in the village of Burton outside Christchurch could be drastically cut if the local integrated care board were to approve the creation of a new branch surgery. That application has been outstanding for more than four months. Will the Secretary of State put a bomb under Dorset ICB and get it to approve it straight away?
That sounds like an invitation to commit a criminal offence, and I think I will resist the temptation. I am sure that the ICB has heard the hon. Gentleman’s forceful representations, and we will make inquiries to get him an update.
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Assessment & feedback
The Secretary of State did not provide a direct answer or commitment to expedite approval for the new branch surgery but instead evaded by making light of the question.
Inviting Criminal Activity
Light-Hearted Evasion
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The question addresses the announcement to abolish NHS England and seeks assurance for continued support for hospital trusts like Shrewsbury and Telford that are struggling with excessive waiting times.
Shrewsbury and Telford hospital trust has some of the longest waiting lists in the country for cancer and A&E, among other areas. It has been receiving national mandated support from NHS England’s recovery support programme. NHS England also provides support to hospital trusts that are struggling with excessive waiting lists through its Getting It Right First Time programme. Given the announcement to abolish NHS England, will the Secretary of State reassure my constituents that there will be continued support for hospital trusts such as Shrewsbury and Telford with unacceptable waiting times, and a clear pathway to improvements for patients who deserve better?
Yes is the short answer. Removing the duplication, waste and efficiency that came with having two head offices for the NHS will lead to better, more effective and streamlined decision making, but that will not in any way detract from the support that the hon. Member describes. In fact, we should see more support and, crucially, more investment going to the frontline as a result of the savings, efficiencies and improvements that we are making.
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Assessment & feedback
The Secretary of State did not provide a specific pathway or timeline for continued support after abolition but promised streamlined decision-making and improved efficiency in resource allocation.
Promises Improved Efficiency
Response accuracy