NHS: Independent Investigation

Debate between Judith Cummins and Polly Billington

Thursday 12th September 2024 Commons Chamber

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Judith Cummins)]

Order. I am aiming to end this statement at 1 pm. I remind Members that anyone who was not in for the start of the statement will not be called.

[Ms Polly Billington (East Thanet) (Lab)]

A recent survey of staff at East Kent Hospitals University NHS foundation trust showed that less than half of employees would be happy for their loved ones to be treated at an east Kent hospital. That is a devastating verdict from staff, showing the impact on their morale and on confidence in the community for the care that people need. Does the Secretary of State agree, however, that a broken NHS is not the fault of staff like them, but down to the previous Government’s decade of austerity and top-down reorganisation of the NHS?