Health Outcomes: East Midlands

Sir Edward Leigh, the Conservative MP for Gainsborough, asked the Minister for Secondary Care, Karin Smyth, what steps the Department plans to take to improve health outcomes in the East Midlands. In her response, the Minister acknowledged the critical condition of the health service across the country, including the East Midlands, where healthy life expectancy has declined in the past decade. She noted that waiting lists in the region stand at slightly below the national average for 18-week waits, at 57% compared to the national average of 58%. Sir Edward Leigh followed up, highlighting the issues faced by his constituents at Lincoln County hospital's A&E department, where two-thirds of people have to wait more than four hours, with some waiting up to 24 hours. He asked the Minister if she understands that to save the NHS and provide people with the timely appointments they need, the full power of the private sector must be unleashed. The Minister responded by thanking the MP for highlighting the "shocking inheritance from the previous Government." She stated that the Government is committed to cutting waiting times and serving constituents by delivering the long-term reform the NHS desperately needs. However, she reiterated that the Government is committed to the existing funding model and will not change it. Matt Western, the Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington, intervened, emphasizing the importance of using diagnostics to improve health outcomes in the East Midlands and across the country. He noted that the Rosalind Franklin laboratory, which was set up in his constituency, was closed down just a few months ago at a cost of £0.6 billion. The MP asked the Minister if she agrees that one of the most important things the Government could do is to restore good quality diagnostics to the NHS. The Minister acknowledged the MP's point, stating that the Government is committed to improving diagnostics as part of the reform of the health sector. She explained that analysis of waiting lists shows that 20% of people will end up with a hospital admission, mostly as a day case. To improve waiting times, the Minister said the focus must be on early prevention, diagnostics, and consultant review at an early stage.