Health Secretary Wes Streeting is making it clear that he wants the NHS to get back to basics and stop being distracted by what he calls “wokery” and “nonsense.”
He believes the health service should focus on cutting waiting times, improving emergency care, and making it easier for people to see a GP or dentist, rather than engaging in ideological debates.
Writing in The Sun on Sunday, Streeting criticized the removal of the word “woman” from NHS documents and a staff member’s social media post claiming their job involved “anti-whiteness.”
He emphasized that the NHS “can’t afford to be distracted by ideologues” and stressed the importance of prioritizing patient care above all else.
Outgoing NHS Chairman Warns of Unsafe Conditions
As Streeting lays out his vision for reform, Richard Meddings, the outgoing chairman of NHS England, has painted a troubling picture of the state of the health service.
He described parts of the NHS as “unsafe” and highlighted serious issues like crumbling hospital infrastructure, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and financial constraints that have left wards in disrepair.
Meddings, who resigned in October under pressure from Streeting, expressed his disappointment at leaving his role.
During his time as chairman, he witnessed hospitals shutting down operating theatres and wards due to safety concerns.
“You’ve got some hospitals where there’s sewage coming up through the washbasins. It cannot be like this,” he said.
NHS Maintenance Backlog Reaches Crisis Levels
One of the biggest concerns Meddings pointed out is the staggering NHS maintenance backlog, which has soared to £13.8 billion—more than double what it was less than a decade ago.
This has contributed to bed shortages, making it difficult to admit patients, particularly the elderly who are left waiting in emergency departments.
He highlighted that while England’s population has grown by 15% since 2000, the number of hospital beds has actually decreased by a third.
“Go to an emergency department and you will see fragile elderly patients lying in cubicles or sometimes on trolleys waiting to be admitted,” he explained.
Bureaucratic Red Tape Slowing NHS Progress
Another major frustration Meddings voiced is the excessive layers of bureaucracy that delay NHS spending approvals.
He described the approval process as “sclerotic,” pointing out that even Boris Johnson’s pledge to build 40 new hospitals required ministerial sign-off for expenditures over £500,000.
“It feels like government is a series of concentric circles of negative control,” Meddings said.
He argued that while financial oversight is important, excessive controls slow down projects, increase costs, and prevent the NHS from making quick and necessary improvements.
Financial Struggles Continue Despite Increased Funding
Even with an additional £22.6 billion allocated for NHS day-to-day spending by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Meddings warned that rising costs—including an increase in employer national insurance contributions—would put further financial strain on the NHS.
He likened the impact to “water seeping under the door.”
Meddings, who previously held leadership roles at Credit Suisse, Standard Chartered, and TSB, was appointed as NHS England chairman in 2022 under then-Health Secretary Sajid Javid.
Originally set to serve a four-year term, he is now stepping down one year early in March.
Labour Expected to Install a New NHS Chairman
As Meddings prepares to leave, speculation is growing over who will replace him.
Reports suggest that Wes Streeting is looking to appoint a Labour loyalist from the party’s previous government under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
Among the names being considered are former Labour Health Secretary Alan Milburn, former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, and Tony Blair’s political secretary Sally Morgan.
With NHS reforms and leadership changes on the horizon, all eyes are on how Streeting’s approach will shape the future of the health service.