Wes Streeting reaffirms mission to cut NHS waiting lists during Heatherwood Hospital visit

Streeting called the NHS "broken," with millions of patients facing long waits for treatment 

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting reiterated his commitment to reducing NHS waiting lists during his visit to Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust’s Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot on Friday.

Streeting toured the Berkshire hospital, which is helping tackle backlogs of planned operations with dedicated surgical services, thereby cutting local waiting lists.

The health secretary spoke to staff and patients at the hospital before meeting regional health representatives to discuss the issues facing services at a town hall event.

His visit follows his recent call for an independent investigation into the NHS, pledging to be honest about the state of the health service and serious about fixing it.

“The NHS is broken. Millions of patients are waiting too long for treatment, often in pain and discomfort,” Streeting said.

He noted that services like those at Heatherwood Hospital demonstrate that great things are still happening in the health service.

“My job as Health Secretary is to take the best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS. I’m talking to patients, frontline staff, and NHS leaders about what needs to change.

“We are determined to turn around the NHS so it can be there for all of us when we need it, once again,” he added.

Streeting credits the NHS with saving his life when he was diagnosed with kidney cancer, and believes that the best way to repay his debt is by working to save the NHS.

Heatherwood Hospital specializes in planned surgery, diagnostics, and outpatient services, mainly focusing on high-volume, low-complexity surgery such as orthopaedics, ophthalmology, gynaecology, and urology.

The hospital also conducts cancer surgeries and plans to expand its range of specialties. The facility aims to shorten patient wait times for surgeries, increase the likelihood of same-day discharges, and enhance overall patient experiences—a model Streeting hopes to replicate nationwide.

Caroline Hutton, Chief Executive (interim) for Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust which runs Heatherwood Hospital said: “We are very proud of what we have been able to achieve for our patients through new ways of working and innovation using, for example, AI, digital patient records and collaboration with health and care partners to provide better care more efficiently.”

The hospital staff informed the new Secretary of State about how their dedicated planned care facility is helping to reduce waiting lists and how they are sharing their learning across the NHS as a Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) surgical elective hub.

Since his appointment as Health and Social Care Secretary two weeks ago, Streeting has met with British Medical Association (BMA) representatives to initiate formal negotiations to end strikes, engaged with the British Dental Association to discuss contract reform, ordered an independent investigation into the state of the NHS, and visited a London GP surgery where he pledged to “fix the front door to the NHS.”

Professor Lord Darzi, a lifelong surgeon, innovator, independent peer, and former health minister, has been appointed to lead the investigation, which is expected to be completed by September.

Streeting said: “This investigation will uncover hard truths and I’ve asked for nothing to be held back. I trust Lord Darzi will leave no stone unturned and have told him to speak truth to power.

“I want a raw and frank assessment of the state of the NHS. This is the necessary first step on the road to recovery for our National Health Service, so it can be there for us when we need it, once again.”

At the Future of Britain Conference 2024, he advocated for ending the “begging bowl culture” and fostering a more collaborative relationship with the Treasury, aimed at driving growth and enhancing the nation’s health.

He also emphasised the need for a long-term approach to reform the struggling health sector and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to steer the healthcare system towards sustainability and growth.