NHS waiting lists in the North West falling

Samantha Dixon, MP for Chester North and Neston, has welcomed new data showing that NHS waiting lists in the North West have fallen by 37,488 compared to when Labour came into power in July last year.

Across the country, NHS waiting list figures show a drop in April for the first time in 17 years (excluding the first year of the pandemic) and have fallen to the lowest level in two years.

The Labour Government met their promise of two million more appointments seven months early, and now more than 3.6million extra appointments have been delivered since July.

Samantha Dixon described the falling waiting lists and rising number of appointments as ‘a clear example of Labour delivering on their promises and the steps being taken to get the NHS working for patients once again’.

The data follows the announcements made by the Chancellor in the Spending Review, with record levels of investment in our National Health Service to get the NHS back on its feet and fit for the future, enabling the NHS to deliver on the Government’s Plan for Change to cut waiting lists, improve patient care and modernise services.

Samantha Dixon, MP for Chester North and Neston said:

“After the Tories left waiting lists at a record high and patient satisfaction at a record low, hundreds of residents across our local area were stuck left waiting for treatment.

“That’s why falling waiting lists in the North West is such good news, as this Labour Government puts the NHS on the road to recovery.

“Together we can be the generation that takes the NHS from the worst crisis in its history and makes it fit for the future.”

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said: 

“We are putting the NHS on the road to recovery after years of soaring waiting times, by providing record investment and fundamental NHS reform. 

“Thanks to our interventions and the hard work of NHS staff, the overall waiting list has now fallen in April for the first time in 17 years – dropping by almost a quarter of a million since we took office. 

“This is just the start. We’ve delivered millions of extra appointments since July, we are pushing on with our mission to get the NHS working for patients in the North West once again as we deliver our Plan for Change.”

Pictured - Samantha Dixon, MP for Chester North and Neston, and Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting.