Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Elective Care Waiting Times

Tuesday 11 February 2025 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ellie Chowns asked about progress in reducing elective care waiting times and the government's stance on NHS privatisation.
  • Deirdre Costigan questioned the Green Party's opposition to Labour's NHS investment budget and its agreement with the independent sector.
  • Dr Luke Evans inquired about specific pathways mentioned in the Labour Government's elective reform plan.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ellie Chowns Green North Herefordshire
NHS
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.

Question

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?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not provide specific details on long-term thinking regarding privatisation and its impact on NHS waiting times.

How: Ideological Hobby Horses, Complaining About Investment

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Q2 Deirdre Costigan Lab Ealing Southall
NHS
Context

Labour welcomes the new Minister and emphasizes the need for Opposition parties to back their investment plan in the NHS.

Question

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?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)

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.

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not provide details on supporting Labour's plan but criticized the Green party instead.

How: Clearing Bins, Opposition To Investment

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Q3 Luke Evans Con Hinckley and Bosworth
NHS
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.

Question

The Labour Government’s elective reform plan mentions 10 straight-to-test pathways. Can the Secretary of State name them or give one example?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary of State did not provide specific examples of the pathways but acknowledged an error in one case study.

How: Highest Waiting Lists, Google Pop Quiz

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