Barclay ‘open to requests’ for Welsh and Scots sufferers to be handled in England
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teve Barclay is “open to requests” for sufferers from devolved nations to be handled on the NHS in England amid document ready lists, the Department of Health has mentioned.
The Health Secretary has invited Michael Matheson and Eluned Morgan, the Scottish and Welsh well being ministers, to debate what “lessons can be learnt” from various approaches to the well being service in numerous administrations.
He steered he would contemplate appeals for folks ready for prolonged intervals in Wales and Scotland to be handled by the NHS or impartial suppliers in England.
I need to help collaboration between our nations to share greatest practices, enhance transparency and supply higher accountability for sufferers
Mr Matheson steered the UK Government ought to concentrate on the “many issues south of the border”, whereas Labour’s Wes Streeting mentioned the one recommendation the Tories are certified to supply is the best way to “wreck” the NHS.
The Welsh Labour Government was additionally apparently unenthused by the supply, claiming its administration has “outperformed” England in main emergency division wait occasions.
In a press launch, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) mentioned there are “significant variations” in NHS ready occasions between the 4 UK nations.
“In Wales, more than 73,000 people are waiting over 77 weeks for treatment, and at least 21,600 people are waiting over 78 weeks for an outpatient, day case or inpatient appointment in Scotland,” it mentioned.
Rather than making an attempt to contain themselves in devolved areas, the UK Government can be properly served specializing in tackling the numerous points within the well being service south of the border
“In England, waiting times for patients over 78 weeks have been virtually eliminated.”
Mr Barclay mentioned: “I want to support collaboration between our nations to share best practices, improve transparency and provide better accountability for patients.
“This will help to ensure we are joined up when it comes to cutting waiting lists – one of the Government’s top five priorities – and will allow us to better work together to improve performance and get patients seen more quickly.”
Mr Matheson pointed to document ready lists and ongoing strikes in England as examples of issues affecting the service south of the border.
“The NHS in England is about to experience its fifth round of strikes by junior doctors, with the waiting list for hospital treatment rising by over 100,000 to a record high of over 7.5 million as a result of the UK Government’s refusal to even get around the negotiating table,” he mentioned.
“Rather than attempting to involve themselves in devolved areas, the UK Government would be well served focusing on tackling the many issues in the health service south of the border.
“In contrast, the Scottish Government has negotiated constructively and made significant commitments to our junior doctors – which is why we are the only part of the UK to have avoided strike action in our NHS this year.”
A Welsh Government spokesperson mentioned: “Wales includes more referrals in its waiting times statistics than England does. Long waiting times are falling every month in Wales and have more than halved in the past year.
What’s next, the Conservatives offering advice on bringing mortgage costs down?
“The overall growth in waiting lists in Wales has been smaller in Wales than in England over the last 12 months – it grew by 3.6% in Wales and by 12.1% in England. Wales has also outperformed England in major emergency department performance in nine out of the last 10 months.
“In Wales patients are treated according to clinical urgency.”
Shadow well being secretary Wes Streeting mentioned: “What’s next, the Conservatives offering advice on bringing mortgage costs down?
“The only advice the Tories are qualified to offer is how to wreck the NHS and cause the biggest strikes in its history.
“If they’ve given up governing, they should step aside so Labour can give Britain the fresh start it needs.”