UK health secretary Sajid Javid has thanked NHS staff across the North West and West Midlands for their tireless efforts to provide care during the pandemic during his visit to the region.
Javid as part of his ‘Road to Recovery’ tour across England on Wednesday (16) visited Deeplish Community Centre, Rochdale, Leighton Hospital, Crewe and Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, a statement said.
According to the statement, staff shared their experiences of working under immense pressure during the pandemic and discussed the government's plans to reform, integrate and fund the NHS and social care, in a drive to build back better.
“It’s been fantastic to visit the health services in the North West and West Midlands to thank the staff for their efforts throughout the pandemic and outline our commitment to reform, recovery and funding for our NHS and social care," said Javid.
“We are committed to tackling the Covid-19 backlog and building a health and social care system for the long term that works for everyone. Our recent Elective Recovery Plan is a vital step in rethinking how our health and care services deliver operations, treatment and checks as we level-up services up and down the country.”
He joined the staff at Deeplish Community Centre for their quarterly equalities team coffee morning, to learn about the issues facing ethnic minority communities in the area. The health secretary discussed the importance of the centre’s upcoming "cancer awareness campaign" and urged the team to respond to the ongoing call for evidence to help shape the government’s 10-Year Cancer Plan for England.
During his visit, Javid also opened a new £15 million A&E department at Leighton Hospital.
Sajid Javid at Leighton Hospital, Crewe
James Sumner, chief executive of the Mid Cheshire Trust, said: “The purpose-built A&E ensures a bigger, better and safer environment for both patients and staff. A&E attendance has increased across the country in recent years, so this provides an excellent opportunity to meet the needs of our growing population of 300,000.”
Javid met with participants in the cutting-edge PANORAMIC antivirals trial at the Birmingham Heartlands Hospital. He also visited the site of the new Heartlands Treatment Centre due to open later this year.
“Heartlands Treatment Centre will provide a modern environment for our clinicians to give exceptional standards of care, state-of-the-art diagnostics, and more non-emergency day-case surgery for up to half a million people in our communities – vitally supporting our ability to get back on track and improve waiting lists for patients in the wake of COVID-19," said Prof David Rosser, chief executive, University Hospitals Birmingham.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)