Health secretary ‘open to requests’ for Scotland and Wales sufferers to be handled in England

The well being secretary is claimed to be “open to requests” for sufferers from different UK nations to be handled in England to assist sort out ready lists.

Steve Barclay has invited the well being ministers for Scotland and Wales to debate what will be discovered from their various approaches.

He urged he would take into account appeals for individuals who have been ready a very long time to return to England for remedy.

Health has been a devolved matter since 1999, with nations capable of largely resolve find out how to run their very own programs.

Mr Barclay stated he needed to “share best practices, improve transparency and provide better accountability for patients”.

He added: “This will help to ensure we are joined up when it comes to cutting waiting lists – one of the government’s top five priorities – and will allow us to better work together to improve performance and get patients seen more quickly.”

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) stated “significant variations” existed between ready occasions.

“In Wales, more than 73,000 people are waiting over 77 weeks for treatment, and at least 21,600 people are waiting over 78 weeks for an outpatient, day case or inpatient appointment in Scotland,” stated the DHSC.

“In England, waiting times for patients over 78 weeks have been virtually eliminated.”

Read extra:
Number ready to begin remedy in England at report excessive
More sufferers to have the ability to skip ready lists if they will journey

Mr Barclay’s invitation for talks has not had an enthusiastic reception.

Scottish well being secretary Michael Matheson urged Westminster ought to focus on the “many issues south of the border”, equivalent to docs’ strikes.

A Welsh authorities spokesperson defended its report and stated lengthy ready occasions had “more than halved in the past year” – and that its figures embrace extra referrals.

They added: “The overall growth in waiting lists in Wales has been smaller in Wales than in England over the last 12 months – it grew by 3.6% in Wales and by 12.1% in England.

“Wales has additionally outperformed England in main emergency division efficiency in 9 out of the final 10 months.”

Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting also hit out at Mr Barclay, saying: “The solely recommendation the Tories are certified to supply is find out how to wreck the NHS and trigger the most important strikes in its historical past.”

Junior docs started a fifth walkout on Friday – which is because of end on Tuesday morning.

The authorities says 778,000 appointments have been disrupted in the course of the strikes, however the British Medical Association says docs haven’t any selection as a result of dwindling pay.