Oral Answers to Questions

Edward Leigh Excerpts

Tuesday 15th October 2024 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con)]

1. What steps his Department plans to take to improve health outcomes in the east midlands.

[The Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth)]

Lord Darzi’s report concluded that the health service is in a critical condition across the country, including in the east midlands, where healthy life expectancy has declined in the past decade. Waiting lists in the region stand at slightly below the national average for 18-week waits, at 57% compared to the national average of 58%.

[Sir Edward Leigh]

With two thirds of people having to wait more than four hours at Lincoln County hospital’s A&E department and with horror stories from my constituents of people waiting up to 24 hours, does the Minister understand that if we are to save the NHS and give people the timely appointments they need, we must unleash the full power of the private sector?

[Karin Smyth]

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for helping to underline the shocking inheritance from the previous Government. He is absolutely right. We are committed to cutting waiting times and serving constituents, like mine, by delivering the long-term reform the NHS desperately needs. The Government are committed to the funding model. We are not going to change it. He tries this every time, but we are committed to the funding model as it exists.