Thu Sep 12 07:16:00 UTC 2024: ## NHS in “Critical Condition” After Years of Tory Neglect, Labour Says

**London, UK -** The NHS is facing a “critical condition” after years of Conservative neglect, according to a report commissioned by Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, Wes Streeting. The report, authored by peer and surgeon Lord Darzi, highlights three key factors contributing to the NHS’s current state: austerity, a “calamitous” reorganisation in 2012, and a lack of resilience ahead of the pandemic.

Streeting accused the Tories of squandering a “golden inheritance” left by Tony Blair’s Labour government, which had achieved record-low waiting times and high patient satisfaction. He likened the Conservatives’ actions to “pouring petrol on the house, turning the gas on,” before the pandemic “lit the match.”

The report emphasizes rising demand for care due to an aging population and low productivity in hospitals, exacerbated by poor staff morale. Lord Darzi argues that the 2012 Health and Social Care Act, which he calls a “calamity without international precedent,” further weakened the NHS. He states the pandemic arrived at a time when resilience was “at an all-time low.”

Responding to the report, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will deliver a speech today outlining a 10-year plan to “reform or die” the NHS. Streeting has outlined three core changes, including shifting care from hospitals to communities, investing in digital technology, and addressing wider societal health issues.

Meanwhile, Shadow Health Secretary Victoria Atkins defended the Conservatives’ record, claiming they have never shied away from acknowledging the NHS’s challenges. She dismissed the report as a “headline-grabbing exercise” and called for a “proper conversation” about the future of the NHS.

Lord Darzi, despite his critical findings, remains optimistic about the NHS’s future, stating that his report does not question the fundamental principles of a free, taxpayer-funded health service.

Starmer will later today unveil his “biggest reimagining of the NHS since its birth,” emphasizing the need for reform despite acknowledging its difficulty and length. He will state that “working people can’t afford to pay more,” making reform the only viable option.

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