THE Labour party said it would aim to save £10 billion by cutting waste and reforming the health service if in power, saying these measures could free up cash to spend on frontline care.
The NHS emerged from the Covid-19 pandemic in crisis, crippled by long waiting lists, ambulance delays and industrial action by staff over pay.
Prime minister Rishi Sunak had pledged to cut waiting lists as one of his five priorities, but has blamed the strikes for missing that target.
Labour’s plans to reform rather than simply spend more on the NHS has prompted criticism from some unions.
But the shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, who has vowed to face down those hostile to his reform agenda, said the plan would ultimately result in more money for frontline services.
“After 14 years of Conservative neglect of the NHS, we are paying more but getting less,” he said in a speech on Tuesday (23), according to extracts released by Labour. “I am focusing on waste because I want to give the public hope that the NHS can be saved.
“The money that is wasted today can be used to get the NHS back on its feet tomorrow. Only Labour has a plan to reform the NHS.”
Labour said it could save £3.5 billion by ending payments to recruitment agencies to cover staffing shortfalls. A further £1.7bn could come by freeing up hospital beds currently occupied by patients who can’t be sent home due to a lack of available care in the community.
However, the NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across the healthcare sector, cautioned against budget cuts to a service that is already struggling due to under-investment.
“Capital budgets are already being raided to plug rising deficits in the dayto-day NHS budget caused by strikes and other cost pressures,” the NHS Confederation said.
Labour has previously set out plans to integrate health and social care, and recruit and retain more carers.
The government has responsibility for the NHS only in England as health is a devolved policy area in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Curator Emma Slocombe with ikat robes and arabachi coats in the Peter the Great Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
View of the entrance to Blickling Hall on a rainy autumn dayAmit Roy 
Kente cloth from Ghana in the Long Gallery in Blickling Hall 
Decoration in the Great Hall at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Palampore fragment made in coastal south-east India in the Brown Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Bed valance dating from early 1700s in the Italian Print Room at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Indian inspired fabric draped on sofas in the South Drawing Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Indian inspired fabric draped on sofas in the South Drawing Room with Indian carpet in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Karun Thakar has picked out the geometric patterns in the bookcase and the Kente cloth in the Long Gallery in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Large tapestry depicting Peter the Great defeating the Swedish army at the Battle of Poltava in 1709 Amit Roy 
ikat robes and arabachi coats in the Peter the Great Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Baghs and kanthas made by women provide contrast to the men only portraits in the Great Hall at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Baghs and kanthas in the entrance Great Hall at Blickling Hall Amit Roy
Baghs and Kanthas in the Great Hall in harmony with stained glass window at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Kimonos reflect Japanese influence in Upper Ante Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Kimono in Upper Ante Room in Blickling Hall 
A view of the Palace and fort at Agra shows romantic side of India Amit Roy 
Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Table carpet, European 1670-1680 Amit Roy 
Unfinished 17th century Italian embroidery in the Print Room at Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Picture of Kashmir shows a romantic view of India Amit Roy 
A panel of Ashburnham bed hangings made in Gujarat for sale in Europe in the Brown Room in Blickling Hall Amit Roy 
Colcha made in the 1600s by women in Bengal for the Portuguese market in the Long Gallery at Blickling Hall Amit Roy
