Health secretary ‘open to requests’ for Scotland and Wales sufferers to be handled in England

The well being secretary is claimed to be “open to requests” for sufferers from different UK nations to be handled in England to assist deal with ready lists.

Steve Barclay has invited the well being ministers for Scotland and Wales to debate what may be realized from their various approaches.

He advised he would think about appeals for individuals who have been ready a very long time to come back to England for remedy.

Health has been a devolved matter since 1999, with nations capable of largely resolve the way to run their very own techniques.

Mr Barclay mentioned he needed to “share best practices, improve transparency and provide better accountability for patients”.

He added: “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.”

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) mentioned “significant variations” existed between ready occasions.

“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,” mentioned the DHSC.

“In England, waiting times for patients over 78 weeks have been virtually eliminated.”

Read extra:
Number waiting to start treatment in England at record high
More patients to be able to skip waiting lists if they can travel

Mr Barclay’s invitation for talks has not had an enthusiastic reception.

Scottish well being secretary Michael Matheson advised Westminster ought to consider the “many issues south of the border”, resembling medical doctors’ strikes.

A Welsh authorities spokesperson defended its file and mentioned lengthy ready occasions had “more than halved in the past year” – and that its figures embody extra referrals.

They added: “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 additionally outperformed England in main emergency division efficiency in 9 out of the final 10 months.”

Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting also hit out at Mr Barclay, saying: “The solely recommendation the Tories are certified to supply is the way to wreck the NHS and trigger the most important strikes in its historical past.”

Junior medical doctors began a fifth walkout on Friday – which is because of end on Tuesday morning.

The authorities says 778,000 appointments have been disrupted in the course of the strikes, however the British Medical Association says medical doctors don’t have any selection as a result of dwindling pay.