Sunak says NHS crisis talks ‘highly valuable’ as Health Secretary Steve Barclay says innovative solutions are being ‘identified’ | UK News

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The prime minister has found the talks on the NHS crisis “highly valuable”, his spokesperson said, with the health secretary tweeting two potential “solutions” that could help solve challenges in the sector.

It came after a day when ministers, health leaders and clinical experts met at Number 10 in an effort to solve the short- and long-term problems facing the health service.

Senior doctors said the NHS is in a very precarious situation, with A&E units struggling to order and trusts and ambulance services announcing serious incidents.

Strikes and large numbers of flu patients and COVID-19 patients are adding to the stress.

Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Sir Chris Whitty and Chief Executive of NHS England, Amanda Pritchard, were among those attending the NHS Recovery Forum.

A government spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister is deeply grateful to the health and social care experts who attended today’s forum – and to the wider workforce they represent for all their hard work and dedication especially during the pandemic.

“He and the Ministers of Health found today’s discussions invaluable for sharing ideas and best practices that can be disseminated nationwide to improve patient care across the country.

“The prime minister has made it one of his top five priorities to reduce NHS waiting lists so people can get care faster and the government is investing a record amount in the health service, including in hiring a record number of doctors and nurses.”

“The next steps will be determined in due course,” the spokesperson added.

Image: Improving the performance of the ambulance service was one of the items on the agenda

The talks will focus on four main issues: Reducing delays in discharging hospital patients for social care. how to improve A&E and ambulance service performance; reducing waiting times for operations; Reducing pressure on doctors.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay also tweeted that at least two possible solutions to some of the problems had been identified.

He said on Twitter: “Innovation is crucial to solving the challenges facing the NHS.

“We are identifying solutions – including virtual wards and a new fall service [for people injured by falls and trips] It can provide 55,000 ambulance callouts annually.

“It’s great that health and care leaders are meeting today to see how we can move forward faster.”

It is understood that “fall service” refers to the possibility of offering a fall prevention service aimed at preventing falls in elderly people who subsequently require unnecessary hospitalization.

The service already works in some local areas and it’s thought the government might look into making it nationwide. One such service in central London provides assessment, advice and exercise for older people at risk of falling.

Labor said earlier that the talks, which were joined by Chancellor of the Exchequer John Glenn, were a “dialogue” and that patients “deserve more”.

The British Medical Association, which represents doctors, did not attend the talks but urged the prime minister to negotiate with striking health workers – such as nurses – seeking more pay.

The prime minister’s “Saturday school” came about after he was tutored by family members in the health service

Joe Pike

Political reporter

@employee

Today, No. 10 was the site of a private ‘Saturday School’ where Rishi Sunak was the only student.

Part personal tutoring, part publicity opportunity, the prime minister appeared to be repeating his practical formula for dealing with the fall manifesto and the small boat crisis.

In all three cases, he got involved in the work of one of his cabinet colleagues, convened expert meetings, and delved into the details. The implication: If you want something classified, he’s the one to do it.

Government sources claim part of the prime minister’s NHS education came from his extended family working in the health service: they told him all about his myriad troubles over the Christmas break.

From speaking to attendees today outside No 10, it appears that the proposals discussed included taking pressure off GPs by allowing pharmacists to play a greater role in diagnosing minor ailments, and better controlling who gets in and out of hospitals.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay tweeted that “solutions” identified at the event include “virtual wards” – using technology so patients can get care at home – as well as a new fall service that could save 55,000 ambulance calls a year.

Today’s ‘Saturday Summit’ was all about long-term solutions, but the urgent problem for the NHS is still strikes.

Trade unions were not invited and the BMA said: “It tells you everything you need to know about this government’s approach that the only people not invited to the NHS Recovery Forum are the NHS workforce.”

Mr Barclay is due to meet union leaders on Monday but now Rishi Sunak has put himself center stage in resolving the NHS crisis.

The danger of this strategy is that if his plan doesn’t work, the prime minister will end up being the face of that failure.

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