Oral Answers to Questions

Ruth Cadbury Excerpts

Tuesday 11th July 2023 Commons Chamber

[Steve Barclay]

We recognise that we need to do more. That is why we are making NHS dentistry more attractive by creating more bands of units of dental activity, having a minimum UDA value, and increasing to 110% the amount of activity that dentists can do. Indeed, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin NHS trust, for example, was above the national average in the 24 months until June 2022. We are putting reforms in place to build more capacity.

[Ruth Cadbury (Brentford and Isleworth) (Lab)]

2. What steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for NHS treatments.

[Mr Gagan Mohindra (South West Hertfordshire) (Con)]

15. What recent progress he has made on reducing the number of patients waiting more than 18 months for elective care.

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Steve Barclay)]

The elective recovery plan sets out clear steps to eliminate long waits, and that is supported by £8 billion of revenue funding and £5.9 billion in capital over three years.

[Ruth Cadbury]

The waiting list for elective care has risen to more than 7 million people, including one constituent who is unable to work while waiting months for an orthopaedic assessment, and another who has been waiting three years for a prostate operation. Both have had to seek emergency care while they wait for an agonisingly long time. Is it not true that the longer the Conservatives stay in power, the longer patients will wait?

[Steve Barclay]

On the last bit of the question, the average waits in Wales are 20.4 weeks as of April, and in England they are 13.8 weeks, which is the exact opposite of the point the hon. Lady raises. We are taking action. We are boosting diagnostic capacity; 111 community diagnostic centres are now open. We are increasing treatment capacity through our surgical hubs programme. We are giving patients choice, which is not available in Wales under the Labour Administration—we are giving them more choice. We are also making better use of the independent sector, which some on the Labour Front Bench support but others do not.