The Prime Minister’s keynote speech was an important step in outlining the Government’s plan to tackle NHS waiting lists and restore public confidence in the healthcare system.

Speaking at the Southwest Elective Orthopaedics Centre on Monday, Sir Keir Starmer presented a vision for the UK’s healthcare system that featured technological innovation, structural reform, and community-focused care to address the system’s chronic delays. These proposals form part of the Government’s broader NHS 10-Year Health Plan, which will seek to make the service more accessible, equitable, and sustainable.

At the heart of the Government’s approach is an ambitious target to reduce non-emergency treatment waiting times to 18 weeks by 2029. This objective will be supported by interim milestones, such as ensuring 65% of patients are treated within the target timeframe by 2026. Meeting these goals hinges on the creation of 140 Community Diagnostic Centres, operating extended hours to improve access to scans, tests, and diagnostic procedures. The Government estimates these facilities will provide 440,000 additional scans annually, helping to alleviate bottlenecks that have plagued the system for years.

Another key element of the plan is upgrading the NHS App to empower patients to book appointments, select providers, and access test results at their convenience. This digital transformation aims to reduce the 8 million missed appointments recorded last year and streamline access to care. Additionally, the government has forged new partnerships with the private healthcare sector to expand capacity, making private hospital resources available for NHS patients. This collaboration is expected to increase bed availability and surgical throughput, while maintaining free care at the point of use.

Whilst the Prime Minister’s speech will initiate important reforms, the plans announced also have their critics. The British Medical Association (BMA) welcomed the commitment to reduce waiting times, but expressed concerns about workforce shortages, arguing that the reforms risk faltering without sufficient staffing. For instance, while Community diagnostic centres, promise same-day diagnostics, the current shortage of radiologists may hinder these goals, exacerbating delays in test reporting. Similarly, the reliance on digital solutions like the NHS App could exclude older patients and those who are digitally illiterate, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups.

Having long worked on these systematic challenges, the All-Party Parliamentary Health Group (APHG) and Policy Connect are well positioned to support these conversations.

An upcoming inquiry into access to primary care services will examine barriers to care, particularly those experienced by underrepresented communities, including vulnerable groups. This inquiry will explore how care can be brought closer to communities more effectively - a theme that resonates strongly with the Government’s commitment to decentralising healthcare delivery.

Whilst the NHS App upgrades hold promise for improving patient autonomy, they must be implemented inclusively. Alternatives must be available for those who cannot access or navigate digital tools. The inquiry will analyse barriers to care and aim to provide actionable recommendations for bridging this gap, ensuring that no one is left behind in the drive for a modernised NHS.

Much of the response to the Prime Minister’s speech has focused on the NHS’ workforce challenges, a critical issue for the APHG. Building on its APPG for Health Workforce series, Policy Connect will be launching a joint inquiry with the Higher Education Commission in late 2025 to explore strategies for expanding NHS workforce capacity. This initiative will delve into the education and training pathways needed to address chronic staff shortages and examine the conditions required to ensure the successful delivery of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.

As the Government embarks on an ambitious programme of healthcare reform, collaboration between policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the public will be essential to delivering an NHS that provides timely, high-quality care for all. The APPG for Health and Policy Connect is excited to kick off its 2025 programme with an event series focusing on the Government’s 10-year Health Plan, ahead of its release in the Spring. This event series will be provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss and analyse recommendations to ensure reforms are effective and inclusive – for more information, please contact Jasmin Adebisi (jasmin.adebisi [at] policyconnect.org.uk (jasmin[dot]adebisi[at]policyconnect[dot]org[dot]uk)).