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PM Rishi Sunak to hold crisis meeting over NHS pressures PM Rishi Sunak to hold crisis meeting over NHS pressures
(32 minutes later)
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is holding a forum with NHS and medical experts in Downing StreetPrime Minister Rishi Sunak is holding a forum with NHS and medical experts in Downing Street
The prime minister, health secretary and Treasury ministers are due to meet health experts to help tackle crucial challenges facing the NHS in England.The prime minister, health secretary and Treasury ministers are due to meet health experts to help tackle crucial challenges facing the NHS in England.
Reports have emerged of patients spending days on trolleys because of shortages of beds in some hospitals.Reports have emerged of patients spending days on trolleys because of shortages of beds in some hospitals.
Rishi Sunak has promised to cut long waiting times for routine operations within two years.Rishi Sunak has promised to cut long waiting times for routine operations within two years.
But Labour says patients deserve "more than a talking shop" and the Lib Dems say it is "too little too late".But Labour says patients deserve "more than a talking shop" and the Lib Dems say it is "too little too late".
"Health experts have been sounding the alarm for months about the crisis the NHS is facing, so why has it taken so long for Rishi Sunak and Steve Barclay to decide to listen to them?" said shadow health secretary Wes Streeting."Health experts have been sounding the alarm for months about the crisis the NHS is facing, so why has it taken so long for Rishi Sunak and Steve Barclay to decide to listen to them?" said shadow health secretary Wes Streeting.
Senior doctors say the NHS is on a knife-edge, with long waits for emergency care, routine operations, GP appointments and care for patients when they are discharged from hospital.Senior doctors say the NHS is on a knife-edge, with long waits for emergency care, routine operations, GP appointments and care for patients when they are discharged from hospital.
High levels of flu and Covid, a wave of strike action and a cost-of-living crisis are also putting huge pressure on the health service.High levels of flu and Covid, a wave of strike action and a cost-of-living crisis are also putting huge pressure on the health service.
On Monday, health unions have been invited to meet Health Secretary Steve Barclay to discuss pay for 2023-24 from April - but union leaders say the government must act on the current pay dispute for this year, and Monday's talks will not stop planned strikes in January. On Monday, health unions have been invited to meet Health Secretary Steve Barclay to discuss pay for 2023-24 from April - but union leaders say the government must act on the current pay dispute for this year, and the talks will not stop planned strikes in January.
Asked on Saturday about reports that the Royal College of Nursing would be willing to lower its pay demand for this year from 19% to 10%, the union's general secretary Pat Cullen called on Mr Sunak to meet it "halfway". Speaking to the BBC's Today programme on Saturday, Royal College of Nursing General Secretary Pat Cullen said the pay increase nurses would receive in 2022-23 was "fundamental" to the ongoing dispute.
"I have put out an olive branch to get us to the table," she said. "The ball is now firmly in the prime minister's court. He needs to come to the negotiation table with me and he needs to put money on that table." "We'll of course go to the meeting... but it's sadly not what's going to prevent strike action that's planned for 10 days' time," she said.
Monday's all-day NHS Recovery Forum has been organised by the government and will focus on how to "share knowledge and practical solutions" across different regions of England. Asked about earlier comments in which she appeared to suggest the union would consider lowering its pay increase demand from 19%, and about reports it would be prepared to accept 10%, she called on Mr Sunak to meet her "halfway".
"I have put out an olive branch to get us to the table," she said. "The ball is now firmly in the prime minister's court. He needs to come to the negotiation table with me and he needs to put money on that table, and it needs to be about the current year."
The all-day NHS Recovery Forum, set to take place in Downing Street on Saturday, has been organised by the government and will focus on how to "share knowledge and practical solutions" across different regions of England.
Downing Street said the aim was to tackle "the most crucial challenges" faced by the health service, such as delayed discharge and emergency care.Downing Street said the aim was to tackle "the most crucial challenges" faced by the health service, such as delayed discharge and emergency care.
"We want to correct the unwarranted variation in NHS performance between local areas, because no matter where you live you should be able to access quality healthcare," No 10 said. "We want to correct the unwarranted variation in NHS performance between local areas, because no matter where you live you should be able to access quality healthcare," a spokesperson said.
Representatives from the public and private sectors will attend, as well as chief executives and clinical leaders of NHS organisations, local areas and councils from across the country, plus medical and social care experts.Representatives from the public and private sectors will attend, as well as chief executives and clinical leaders of NHS organisations, local areas and councils from across the country, plus medical and social care experts.
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, will also take part in the forum.Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, will also take part in the forum.
Record number of ambulances queue at A&ERecord number of ambulances queue at A&E
Pressure on the NHS is unsustainable, medics warnPressure on the NHS is unsustainable, medics warn
Why are nurses and ambulance staff striking?Why are nurses and ambulance staff striking?
The government in England has already announced plans to roll out virtual ward beds so that more people can be treated at home, a new service to save thousands of ambulance call-outs to people who have fallen, and more funding to improve emergency care and adult social care.The government in England has already announced plans to roll out virtual ward beds so that more people can be treated at home, a new service to save thousands of ambulance call-outs to people who have fallen, and more funding to improve emergency care and adult social care.
More than 90 diagnostic hubs have also been opened to reduce the queues for tests, checks and scans.More than 90 diagnostic hubs have also been opened to reduce the queues for tests, checks and scans.
Although two-year waits for routine treatment have shrunk since the pandemic, experts say there is still a mountain to climb before the numbers of patients waiting longer than a year start coming down.Although two-year waits for routine treatment have shrunk since the pandemic, experts say there is still a mountain to climb before the numbers of patients waiting longer than a year start coming down.
More than seven million people are currently on a hospital waiting list for a non-urgent operation or treatment in England - one in eight of the population.More than seven million people are currently on a hospital waiting list for a non-urgent operation or treatment in England - one in eight of the population.