Portsmouth MP Stephen Morgan has hailed new figures revealing NHS waiting lists across the South East have dropped by more than 35,000 since Labour took office.
Nationally, NHS waiting list data demonstrates a reduction in April – the first decline in 17 years, excluding the pandemic’s initial year – reaching their lowest point in two years.
The Labour administration exceeded their pledge of delivering 2 million additional appointments by seven months, now providing over 3.6 million extra appointments since July.
Mr Morgan characterised the declining waiting lists and increased appointment numbers as ‘clear evidence of Labour fulfilling their commitments and measures being implemented to restore NHS functionality for patients’.
These figures follow the Chancellor’s Spending Review announcements, featuring unprecedented investment levels in the National Health Service to revitalise the NHS and prepare it for future challenges, allowing the service to execute the Government’s Plan for Change – reducing waiting times, enhancing patient care, and modernising services.
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Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan commented:
“Following 14 years under Conservative leadership, our NHS was severely compromised with waiting lists reaching unprecedented levels, leaving Portsmouth residents waiting excessively long for medical care.
“I’m delighted to observe initial outcomes from the Government’s NHS recovery strategy, with waiting lists decreasing locally.
“Considering the magnitude of the crisis we inherited, we understand it requires time to genuinely transform our NHS, however we can observe the advancement achieved within just twelve months and I’m optimistic local residents will begin experiencing improvements.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting stated:
“We are setting the NHS on a recovery path following years of escalating waiting periods, through providing unprecedented investment and comprehensive NHS reform.
“Due to our measures and NHS staff’s dedication, the overall waiting list has decreased in April for the first time in 17 years – falling by nearly a quarter of a million since we assumed office.”
