Sarah Owen MP: This government is bringing waiting lists down and investing in the NHS
The NHS was neglected and mismanaged - but now we're finally seeing some improvement.
Everyone knows that the NHS has been neglected and mismanaged. Millions are on waiting lists, many have difficulty getting routine appointments, procedures are delayed and every day it seems there are new revelations of more than a decade of poor care and falling standards.
When this Labour government came into power almost a year ago, we inherited an NHS in the worst state of its 77-year history. The work that needs doing is huge, and will take time.
But already, we are seeing the benefits of a government that cares about the NHS, rather than letting it decline as it did under the Conservatives. At the Spending Review, the NHS was given a vital £29bn extra funding.
This joins the important measures laid out in the autumn budget - £1.5billion for new surgical hubs, £70million for radiotherapy and £2billion to improve productivity. On top of this, the Spending Review contained £10billion extra for new technology and digital services.
Behind these numbers, the NHS is slowly getting back on its feet. Waiting lists, which climbed ever higher under the previous government, have started to come down, dropping for four consecutive months, and are now at their lowest for two years.
We’ve also recruited 1,700 new GPs and delivered more than 3 million extra appointments since July 2024. I started my career as a healthcare worker – and have endless admiration and respect for the hard-working and dedicated NHS staff working round the clock to deliver the best possible care. They deserve proper pay and conditions – which is why the government awarded an above-inflation 3.6% pay rise in May.
All of these elements, from funding to staffing and administration, come together to keep the NHS running. If just one of them is not properly supported, then the whole system can start to crumble. But when they are all given the attention they need, everyone notices the difference.
There is still a way to go. I am particularly concerned that not enough attention is being placed on improving maternity care, especially here in Luton. Women should be supported with the best quality of care, whether that is in maternity or for reproductive conditions like endometriosis.
Labour promised to fix the NHS, and we’re delivering on that promise. I will keep pushing to ensure everyone gets the care they deserve.