British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called for a “vigorous and radical” approach to health care problems at an emergency meeting on Saturday. He delivered the message during an emergency meeting with experts and representatives of the health services.
“With a ‘business as usual’ mentality, we will not be able to solve the challenges we face,” Sunak said at the Downing Street meeting. “During the (corona) pandemic, we had to act forcefully and radically to get through it,” says the prime minister. “I think we need the same approach now.”
The UK’s NHS health service, which has been underfunded for years, is facing a particularly difficult winter. Hospital emergency departments are being overwhelmed by the increase in both the number of flu and corona cases.
Strikes and long waiting lists
There are long waiting lists for patients to undergo surgery. In addition, nurses and paramedics have gone on strike. They demand higher wages to cope with the massive price increases.
The government will also talk with the unions on Monday to call a halt to strikes in the health services, but also in other sectors. RCN, the most important trade union in the healthcare sector, emphasizes that the ball is in the court of the prime minister. “Money has to be put on the table,” says trade unionist Pat Cullen.
Sunak made it clear on Wednesday that tackling the NHS’s problems is one of his government’s five priorities. Saturday’s emergency meeting was intended to reinforce that message.
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