NHS Waiting Times: Long-Term Sickness Absence

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean Excerpts

Thursday 19th October 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

My Lords, the noble Baroness is exactly right: a healthier population is also a wealthier and more productive one. This Government are committed to supporting people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work. The NHS is working incredibly hard to ensure that those who have been waiting the longest receive treatment as soon as possible to ensure that people get the right care at the right time. That is why we are delivering record staffing numbers and putting in record levels of funding to help the NHS recover and transform services. The elective recovery plan set clear ambitions to eliminate long waits for planned NHS treatments.

[Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con)]

My Lords, people with private health insurance are able to get almost immediate treatment, including diagnostic and other treatment, so why do the Government not use the private sector to reduce these waiting lists and reboot our economy?

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

My Lords, the NHS does use the private sector where appropriate—

[Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con)]

Not enough.

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

My noble friend says, “Not enough”, but wherever we can utilise other sectors, such as the private sector, we do so—but there is clearly more to be done.