Britain launches 10-year plan to save health service in crisis
Keir Starmer
on Thursday will launch a 10-year strategy to save a National Health Service he said was in crisis, as he aims to alleviate the burden on overstrained hospitals and provide care closer to people's homes.
The state-run, publicly funded NHS has struggled to recover from the impact of COVID-19, endured annual winter crises and several waves of industrial action, and currently reports long backlogs for elective procedures.
Starmer has previously warned that the NHS must "reform or die" and pledged an overhaul of the system that would manage the rising costs of looking after an aging population without hiking taxes.
In a statement, Starmer said that his Labour Party had inherited a health system in crisis when it came to office one year ago, but that the plan would "fundamentally rewire and future-proof" the service.
The plan included establishing new health centres bringing a broader range of services under one roof. The government said that would free hospitals from "perpetual firefighting" and bring down waiting lists.
After a rocky first year in government marked by unpopular spending cuts - and in some cases followed by costly policy reversals - health care is one area where Starmer's party can claim some success.
It has delivered 4 million extra appointments - double its first year target - and cut waiting lists to a two-year low. Starmer said the NHS could not be fixed overnight, but that his government was "already turning the tide on years of decline".
Nevertheless, the government remains in an impasse with the pharmaceutical sector on drug pricing. It also faces possible fresh industrial action from healthcare staff and is yet to publish a promised strategy to fast-track development of the country's life sciences sector.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Tech meets touch: How doctors are adapting to the digital transformation of healthcare
As AI, telemedicine and digital tools transform healthcare, doctors are adapting to a tech-driven future while preserving the human touch. Experts say technology can enhance care but empathy, intuition and doctor-patient relationships remain essential in modern medicine's evolving role. read more As technology continues to transform healthcare at an unprecedented pace, doctors are learning to walk the tightrope between innovation and intuition. From AI-powered diagnostics to telemedicine platforms and wearable tech, physicians across India are adopting new tools with cautious optimism but insist that the irreplaceable human touch remains at the core of healing. Dr. Ajay Agarwal, Senior Director of Internal Medicine at Fortis Hospital (Noida) believes that while digital innovation brings undeniable efficiency, it must be grounded in clinical wisdom. 'We must navigate this transformation with a blend of cautious optimism and evolving pragmatism,' he said. Telemedicine for instance, has become a permanent fixture in healthcare practice, especially for chronic disease follow-ups and preliminary triage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'It has enhanced accessibility and allowed us to manage patients remotely with greater ease,' Dr. Agarwal added. 'But subtle diagnostic cues like a patient's gait, expressions or behavioural signs—are still best read in person.' AI, meanwhile, is viewed by Dr. Agarwal as a powerful assistant rather than a replacement. 'It opens doors to deeper clinical reasoning by highlighting imaging patterns and supporting diagnosis, but its integration must be critically evaluated by trained physicians,' he said. Digital health portals and patient records available online have also improved data sharing across hospitals, bridging long-standing communication gaps. Still, he added, 'The art of understanding the person behind the illness, that is something no tool can replicate.' Dr. Tushar Tayal, Consultant in Internal Medicine at CK Birla Hospital (Gurugram) echoed this sentiment, saying that technology has permanently altered the landscape of healthcare. 'The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a shift that was already underway,' he says. Telemedicine has evolved from a peripheral service to a mainstay of patient care, particularly useful for mental health, routine follow-ups and care in underserved regions. 'Doctors have had to develop virtual bedside manners—learning how to maintain empathy and build trust through a screen.' AI's role in diagnostics is particularly pronounced in radiology, pathology, and dermatology, where pattern recognition can be enhanced by machine learning. 'These tools help reduce errors and allow us to focus more on patient interaction,' Dr. Tayal added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Wearables and mobile health apps are another frontier. Devices that monitor heart rate, blood sugar, and sleep patterns now offer real-time data that can inform personalised treatment plans. 'Doctors are collaborating with data scientists to make sense of this information,' he said. Medical education is also adapting, with new training modules focusing on digital ethics, AI tools and critical data analysis. Still, the integration of tech in healthcare isn't without its challenges. Data privacy, screen fatigue and the risk of over-reliance on algorithms remain key concerns. Yet both doctors agree that rather than replacing physicians, technology is expanding their role. Today's doctors are no longer just healers, they are digital guides, interpreters of complex data and managers of virtual care ecosystems.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Helicopter repair facility at Honda to start in 3 months: CM
Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that the helicopter repair and overhaul facility at Honda in Sattari will commence its operation within three months. He said that infrastructure work at the facility had been completed. 'Within three months, the facility will commence operations. It will generate employment in the state,' Sawant said. Last week, the CM held discussions with defence minister Rajnath Singh and urged him to commence operations as soon as possible. Singh assured the CM that operations would start. Almost nine years after the foundation stone was laid for the helicopter repair and overhaul facility at Honda, the plant is yet to be made operational. The construction was delayed due to Covid, there was not much progress. Last year, the work resumed and work is now complete. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and French aerospace giant Safran have signed an MoU to extend cooperation and explore opportunities for new helicopter engines in civil and military markets. HAL, the defence public sector undertaking, and Safran have set up Helicopter Engines MRO Pvt Ltd (HEMRO) as a joint venture to repair TM333 and Shakti gas turbine engines. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The Shakti engine is installed on HAL's advanced light helicopter known as 'Dhruv' and its variants, including 'Rudra' and light combat helicopter. The Ardiden 1U engine powers the new light utility helicopter, a 3-tonne single-engine aircraft. Former defence minister Manohar Parrikar laid the foundation stone for the project in July 2016, but the Goa Industrial Development Corporation gave the green signal to transfer the land to the aerospace firm only in Dec 2017. HAL acquired the assets of the defunct Goa Automobile Accessories Ltd for Rs 7 crore, and with Safran India, will invest Rs 170 crore to set up HEMRO. India's armed forces are among the largest operators of Safran-designed helicopter engines, with over 1,000 engines operational across the country, including 250 TM333 and over 500 Shakti engines. Shakti is the Indian variant of the Safran Ardiden 1H1, co-developed with HAL.
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Fencing work on India-Myanmar border picks up pace, border haats planned
The work of fencing the India-Myanmar border is progressing rapidly, with a key focus on preventing Rohingya infiltration and curbing smuggling. India is constructing a 1,643-kilometre-long fence along the porous international border, of which approximately 401 kilometres have been completed so fencing project is currently underway in the border states of Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland, where the open border has historically allowed free movement of people. In Manipur's Moreh, a strategic town on the border, 9.2 kilometres of fencing have already been India Today team visited the Moreh border and saw that cross-border movement, which was earlier halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic, has now resumed. (Image: India Today) The Assam Rifles is playing a vital role in facilitating movement and maintaining security in the an exclusive interview with India Today, Director General of Assam Rifles, Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera, said that the border presents unique challenges, including dense forests and difficult terrain, requiring continuous patrolling. He stressed that the fencing is meant to check illegal activities, not divide Assam Rifles, responsible for guarding the India-Myanmar border, has been instrumental in ensuring peace in the region. In the last six months alone, the force has neutralized more than 11 militants and seized narcotics worth the fencing, plans are in place to set up border haats to boost local trade and livelihood opportunities for people living on both sides. The fencing work has been entrusted to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).However, some organisations have opposed the fencing work, citing logistical difficulties during the India-Myanmar border stretches across four northeastern states, including Manipur, with 1,472 kilometres of the boundary already demarcated.- EndsMust Watch
