LONDON (Reuters) – Britain's main opposition Labor Party says it aims to save 10 billion pounds ($12.71 billion) if it takes power by cutting waste and reforming the health service. He said it would help secure cash that could be used for front-line medical care.
The state-run National Health Service (NHS) has emerged from the crisis of the coronavirus pandemic crippled by long waiting lists, ambulance delays and industrial action by staff over pay.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak The Prime Minister had promised to reduce waiting lists as one of his five priorities, but he accused the strike of defeating that purpose.
He is planning a general election later this year, with opinion polls showing Labor leading Sunak's Conservative Party by around 20 points.
Labour's plans to not only increase spending but also reform the NHS, a cherished national institution established by the Labor government after the Second World War, have drawn criticism from some trade unions. .
But Work Health spokesperson Wes Streeting has vowed to confront those hostile to his reform agenda, saying the plan will ultimately pump more money into frontline services. He said it would happen.
“After 14 years of Conservative neglect of the NHS, we are paying more and receiving less,” he is expected to say in a speech on Tuesday, according to excerpts released by Labor.
“I am focusing on waste because I want to give the public hope that the NHS can be saved. Money wasted today can be used to get the NHS back on its feet tomorrow. Plans to reform the NHS Only the Labor Party has it.''
Labor will save £3.5 billion by ending payments to recruitment agencies to fill staff shortages, and free up hospital beds currently being used by patients who cannot be sent home without the treatment they deserve. He said this would save an additional £1.7 billion. within the community.
But the NHS Confederation, which represents organizations in the health sector, warned of cuts to a service already struggling due to lack of investment.
The NHS Federation said: “Capital budget enforcement is already in place to cover the growing deficit in the daily NHS budget caused by strikes and other cost pressures,” and the next government will need to address the backlog. He added that there is a need to increase capital funding.
Labor has previously set out plans to unify health care and social care, and to recruit and retain more carers.
The UK Government is responsible for the NHS in England only, as health is a devolved policy area in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
($1 = 0.7868 pounds)
(Reporting by Alistair Smout; Additional reporting by Muvija M; Editing by Gareth Jones)
