NHS backlog: Are you concerned about waiting lists for medical care? And who is to blame?
A warning has been issued to prime minister Rishi Sunak, as new data reveals that a quarter of the population are now on the waiting list for NHS treatment. It follows a pledge by the PM to bring down NHS waits by the time of the next general election, with experts claiming he could pay a political price if his promises are not met.
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00:00 Are you concerned about NHS wait times and do you know anyone that's waiting?
00:05 I am concerned about waiting times. I'm actually waiting for an elective operation and it says,
00:17 if you Google it, it says what's the waiting time for this and it says 18 weeks. It took
00:22 me 10 months to see a surgeon and it's going to take another 4 or 5 months before I have
00:28 the operation.
00:30 People often have pride in the NHS, as they should. It's a great initiative and idea but
00:36 the problem is the backlogs as you described. So therefore it needs to be re-evaluated because
00:41 I don't think it's the pride that people make it out to be. I think there's a lot of problems
00:44 and it needs a lot of improvement.
00:46 I also defend the NHS. There isn't anything in the world that compares. Sorry. There isn't
00:59 anything that compares with our NHS. They're second to none.
01:06 I'm concerned for my daughters and my grandchildren. It's not a good time. It's not a good time.
01:14 Change is afoot and change is needed.
01:18 One in four people are now on the NHS waiting list and one in four have also had to wait
01:22 for six hours or more in A&E, in a sign that millions of us have been personally affected
01:28 by backlogs at the NHS.
01:30 One of Rishi Sunak's five priorities was to cut down waiting lists but the problem only
01:34 seems to be worsening. In the lead up to the next general election, which will be held
01:39 no later than the end of January 2025, do you think the PM will be able to pull through
01:44 with his promise by then?
01:45 I am concerned about the NHS. I've said all along that the NHS is underfunded. Also going
01:53 back to the immigration situation where people are coming into the country, they're not contributing
02:00 to the NHS or to the money. We've got too many people, the waiting lists are through
02:09 the roof.
02:10 The NHS needs, I don't think it's money that needs to be put in. I think there's too many
02:15 high up people taking all the money. It should be getting rid of a lot of the high ones that
02:21 we don't need and pay the doctors and nurses and that more to get rid of the waiting lists.
02:28 I'm worried that if I should get ill, I might have a long wait to get the right treatment
02:34 that I need for whatever condition I've got. I'm getting older so it is becoming a concern.
02:40 I think there is a problem that needs to be addressed.
02:43 I've been waiting for a long, long time. I've got a tumour cancer cut out my face but I've
02:51 been waiting a long time and all these strikes and that, it don't get no where. No, don't
02:57 get no where.
02:58 And are you worried about the NHS then?
03:00 Well yeah, I am.
03:02 Yeah.
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