Rishi Sunak is unlikely to deliver on one of his five key pledges to voters as experts warned his government's chances of cutting NHS waiting lists by the general election were "vanishingly small".
The prime minister has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks as inflation spiralled despite his promise to cut it by half, while the Court of Appeal ruled against his controversial Rwanda plan that Tories say will help stop small boat Channel crossings.
Now, on the 75th anniversary of the NHS, his major pledge on the health service – to cut waiting lists – is under threat, with his own Deaprtment of Health minister admitting the numbers were going in the wrong direction.
Maria Caulfield conceded that the record number of Britons now waiting for treatment – which rose from 7.2 million to 7.4 million in April – “probably will go up higher”.
Mr Sunak’s office appeared to try to shift the target by focusing on longer-term waiting times. But two leading health think tanks told The Independent the PM was “highly unlikely” even to meet his promise to eliminate one-year waiting times by spring next year.
The Health Foundation said the chances of cutting the overall waiting lists by the vote expected in autumn 2024 were “vanishing small”, while the King’s Fund said overall waiting lists would probably “continue to rise between now and the next general election”.
Opposition parties said the PM’s crucial NHS pledge “looks set for the scrapheap” and accused ministers of “moving the goalposts” by focusing on reducing the very longest waiting times.
この記事は The Independent の July 06, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は The Independent の July 06, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
No title until Reds become road warriors, warns Slot
Liverpool boss says team must match away form of rivals
United stuck in 'purgatory' and facing only one way out
When one prominent football figure caught a glimpse of the Manchester United dressing room recently, they immediately recognised a scene they had seen from rival clubs. That was a squad that \"doesn't know what next\" and feels like it's \"going nowhere\". It isn't intentional, of course, but is a feeling that starts to grip a group when there's no sense of clarity.
Fifa transfer rules 'contrary to EU law', Diarra case finds
Fifa will have to update key paragraphs of its transfer rules to ensure punishment of players for breaking contracts is less draconian, after a European Court of Justice ruling on the Lassana Diarra case.
Marital rape is not rape, argues Indian government
The Indian government has opposed calls to classify consensual sexual acts committed by a husband against his wife as \"rape\", saying that to do so could have an impact on conjugal relationships and disturb the institution of marriage.
Screaming statue tribute to doctor raped and killed in India causes controversy
A bust installed outside a state-run hospital in India where a resident doctor was raped and killed has sparked anger and shock as it depicts a woman screaming in agony, her head thrown back and eyes wide open.
Haitian gang shoots at least 70 people in town rampage
Gang members brandishing automatic rifles have stormed through a town in Haiti's main breadbasket region, killing at least 70 people and forcing another 3,000 to flee.
Beirut hit again by Israel as Iran vows not to back down
Israeli military claims strikes targeted new Hezbollah leaders
Police officers win appeal in athlete stop and search case
Two former Metropolitan Police officers have been handed their jobs back after winning an appeal against a ruling that they had lied about a stop and search incident involving British athlete Bianca Williams.
Royal Navy chief apologises for submarine service abuse
The head of the Royal Navy has apologised after an investigation found \"misogyny, bullying and other unacceptable behaviours\" in the submarine service.
Women say gender equality in the workplace has stalled
Gender equality in the workplace has stalled as women report experiencing many of the same challenges as they did nearly 30 years ago, a new survey of high-flyers suggests.