Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Steve Barclay will as we speak meet well being consultants as they search to "mitigate winter pressures" hitting the NHS this 12 months.

The pair will maintain a roundtable with medical leaders in Downing Street, aiming to "improve performance and drive forward planning" to ease the impression on the well being service within the coming months - in addition to discussing long term issues, reminiscent of chopping ready lists.

Mr Sunak mentioned the federal government had "started planning for winter earlier than before", including: "We're bringing together the best minds in healthcare who all have one shared aim - protecting patients and making sure they get the care they need this winter".

Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge

Sky News Monday to Thursday at 7pm.Watch dwell on Sky channel 501, Freeview 233, Virgin 602, the Sky News web site and app or YouTube.

Tap here for more

And Mr Barclay mentioned he was "working closely with NHS and social care leaders to provide additional hospital capacity, protect emergency care and harness the full potential of technology to deliver the best possible service and intensify our efforts to tackle waiting lists".

But whereas the occasion will likely be attended by NHS England's chief govt Amanda Pritchard and quite a few chairs of medical royal faculties, Labour attacked the federal government for failing to ask frontline workers.

Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant

2:57

Shadow well being secretary Wes Streeting mentioned: "How can Rishi Sunak hold a summit to prepare for the winter crisis and forget to invite junior doctors and consultants?

"They are the individuals he most urgently must get across the desk, to convey an finish to those strikes."

Labour as we speak claimed round 36,000 most cancers appointments had been cancelled on account of industrial motion within the sector since December final 12 months.

And it criticised each Mr Sunak and Mr Barclay for refusing to fulfill with unions over their grievances with pay and situations.

Mr Streeting added: "There were no national strikes in the NHS during 13 years of the last Labour government. If Rishi Sunak has given up on governing, he should call an election so Labour can restore the NHS to good health."