Liberal Democrats’ Ambulance Delay Policy: Health Foundation Reacts
TL/DR –
The NHS is in a crisis, according to Tim Gardner, a policy director, who noted that the four-hour target for treating A&E patients hasn’t been met since July 2015, leading to lives being lost. He welcomes the Liberal Democrats’ whole system approach to resolving these issues, including social care reform, but warns that even with 1,000 extra beds and additional funding the challenge ahead is enormous. As such, he calls for all political parties to commit to long-term investment in the NHS, including a capital settlement for improving productivity, modernising hospital buildings, replacing outdated equipment, and investing in new technology.
Addressing the Ambulance Delays and Corridor Care Crisis
The recent propositions by the Liberal Democrats for addressing ambulance delays and eradicating corridor care have sparked a reaction. Tim Gardner, Assistant Director of Policy, states that the NHS is facing serious challenges.
He indicates that the four-hour target for treating A&E patients has been consistently missed since July 2015. This strain on urgent and emergency care services has resulted in loss of lives. Corridor treatment of patients, while harmful, is merely a symptom of broader issues across the health and care system.
The Liberal Democrats’ plan for a holistic approach to address these problems, including commitments to social care reform, is thus welcome. This is an initiative not yet seen by other major political parties.
The proposed addition of 1,000 beds and extra funding is a step forward, but Gardner warns against undervaluing the scale of the challenge. In April 2024 alone, over 42,000 patients waited more than 12 hours for a hospital bed in A&E.
As political party manifestos are expected to be released next week, Gardner emphasizes the need for commitments from all parties for long-term NHS investment. This includes modernizing outdated hospital infrastructure, replacing old equipment, and investing in new technology.
Media Contact
Nick Codling
nick.codling@health.org.uk
020 8152 8116
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