Steve Barclay has stated he’s “open to requests” for sufferers from Wales and Scotland to be handled on the NHS in England amid report ready lists.
The Health Secretary has invited Scottish and Welsh ministers to debate what “lessons can be learnt” from the totally different approaches taken by every authorities to the well being service.
He urged the 2 nations have worse NHS delays than England in some areas, which each devolved administrations robustly disputed.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made reducing ready lists certainly one of 5 key priorities for his management after they hit a report 7.57 million individuals in hospitals in England alone in June.
Rather than trying to contain themselves in devolved areas, the UK Government could be effectively served specializing in tackling the numerous points within the well being service south of the border
Scottish well being minister Michael Matheson
The concern is more likely to be a key political battleground on the subsequent election, so the Government is eager to argue well being providers wouldn’t be higher managed below Labour or the SNP.
In a press launch, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) stated 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 stated.
“In England, waiting times for patients over 78 weeks have been virtually eliminated.”
Scottish well being minister Michael Matheson pointed to report ready lists and ongoing strikes hitting the NHS 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 stated.
“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 spokesman stated: “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.
“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.”
Wales Secretary David TC Davies insisted his Cabinet colleague’s invitation was an try to “put people before politics”, telling Times Radio lots of his constituents say they might “love” to be handled in England.
But shadow well being secretary Wes Streeting stated: “The only advice the Tories are qualified to offer is how to wreck the NHS and cause the biggest strikes in its history.”
Shadow schooling secretary Bridget Phillipson informed Sky News on Sunday that Mr Barclay is “the last person anyone needs a lecture from” on easy methods to run the NHS.
She accused the UK Government of making a “total shambles” within the NHS and stated devolved governments are restricted in what they will do by budgets decided in Westminster.