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Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Putting NHS ‘on people's doorsteps' at heart of ten-year health service reboot
Millions will be helped closer to home in a bid to ease the burden on hospitals, under a decade-long blueprint to revive the NHS unveiled by the government Putting the NHS 'on people's doorsteps' is at the heart of plans to reboot our ailing health service. Millions will be helped closer to home in a bid to ease the burden on hospitals, under a decade-long blueprint to revive the NHS. New teams of health professionals are to treat and care for patients nearer where they live, Keir Starmer is due to unveil on Thursday. As Downing Street seeks to recover from a bruising rebellion this week over welfare reforms, the PM is launching the government's 10-year health plan. The strategy is split into three strands to move the NHS from analogue to digital, treatment to prevention, and from hospital to more community care. Starmer is billing the blueprint as 'care on people's doorsteps' – declaring it is time to "reform or die". But the Lib Dems attacked it, branding the plan 'a castle built on sand' – and highlighted the need to 'tackle the crisis in social care'. The so-called 'Neighbourhood Health Service' is set to feature teams established in communities 'to dramatically improve access to the NHS', the government says. The teams are to 'free up overstrained hospitals from perpetual firefighting so they can focus on delivering', it adds. The neighbourhood teams will be based in new health centres, eventually open 12 hours a day, six days a week, the government says. It comes after a damning review of the NHS last year by ex-Labour health minister Lord Darzi found the health service was still struggling 'with the aftershocks of the pandemic'. The NHS was, he concluded, 'in critical condition'. The majority of outpatient care is intended to happen outside of hospitals by 2035 – with less need for hospital appointments for things such as eye care, cardiology, respiratory medicine and mental health. Neighbourhood health services are set to be rolled out nationwide to bring tests, post-op care, nursing and mental health teams closer to homes. The move is designed to give access to a full range of services, allowing hospitals to focus on the sickest. Neighbourhood health centres will be staffed by teams including nurses, doctors, social care workers, pharmacists, health visitors, palliative care staff and paramedics. Debt advice, employment support and stop smoking or obesity services will also be included in new services. Meanwhile, 'local areas will be encouraged to trial innovative schemes like community outreach door-to-door – to detect early signs of illness and reduce pressure on GPs and A&E', the government says. The plans also outline training for thousands more GPs, with the government pledging to "bring back the family doctor" – ending the "8am scramble" to get an appointment. Starmer, who led Labour to victory at last summer's election after 14 years of Tory rule, said: 'The NHS should be there for everyone, whenever they need it. But we inherited a health system in crisis, addicted to a sticking plaster approach, and unable to face up to the challenges we face now, let alone in the future. That ends now. Because it's reform or die. Our 10 Year Health Plan will fundamentally rewire and future-proof our NHS so that it puts care on people's doorsteps, harnesses game-changing tech and prevents illness in the first place. "That means giving everyone access to GPs, nurses, and wider support all under one roof in their neighbourhood - rebalancing our health system so that it fits around patients' lives, not the other way round. This is not an overnight fix, but our Plan for Change is already turning the tide on years of decline with over four million extra appointments, 1,900 more GPs and waiting lists at their lowest level for two years. But there's more to come. This government is giving patients easier, quicker and more convenient care, wherever they live.' Health secretary Wes Streeting said the plan 'will turn the NHS on its head, delivering one of the most fundamental changes in the way we receive our healthcare in history'. He added: 'By shifting from hospital to community, we will finally bring down devastating hospital waiting lists and stop patients going from pillar to post to get treated. This Government's Plan for Change is creating an NHS truly fit for the future, keeping patients healthy and out of hospital, with care closer to home and in the home.' New tools are to be rolled out to support GPs over the next two years, with AI scribes said to be ending 'the need for clinical notetaking, letter drafting, and manual data entry to free up clinicians' time to focus on treating patients'. And 'digital telephony' will be used so all calls to GP practices are quickly answered, the government says. Meanwhile, dental care professionals are set to work as part of the neighbourhood teams. Dental therapists, who tend to carry out some of the straightforward work of dentists, could undertake check-ups, treatment and referrals, according to the plan. And there will be a new requirement for newly-qualified dentists to practise in the NHS for a minimum period, intended to be three years, the government says. Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said: 'This plan will be a castle built on sand until ministers finally tackle the crisis in social care. Years of Conservative neglect pushed the NHS to breaking point, with overcrowded A&Es, people waiting weeks to see a GP and parents unable to find a dentist for their children.' He added: 'Without bold action to fix the social care crisis, our NHS will remain overwhelmed and patients will continue to suffer." Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said a key part of making sure the plan is successful "will be resetting the relationship between the NHS and the public so that local communities are placed at the heart of these reforms and people are supported to be active agents in their own health and wellbeing". Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the King's Fund thinktank, said: "... our call for a fundamental shift of care from hospital to community and a more people-first approach has been echoed by successive governments, so, whilst welcome, the vision itself is not new, the radical change would be delivering the vision." The plans follow the government earlier this year announcing NHS England was being abolished to 'cut bureaucracy'.
The National
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Ex-Unionist party leader backs Scottish independence referendum
The ex-Labour MP, who formerly led the now-defunct Unionist All for Unity party, has said he now supports the "right of Scots to self-determination" having been opposed to it his entire political life. In 2021, he pledged to "tackle the scourge of separatism" when All for Unity launched their Scottish Parliament election manifesto. But in a surprise post on social media on Monday, he appeared to have completely changed his tune, adding that Prime Minister Keir Starmer was "pitiful" and that Britain had become a "cesspit". He posted on Twitter/X: "We support the right of the Scots to self-determination. Eleven years after they last did so, we believe the time for another referendum is close. READ MORE: Yvette Cooper: Palestine Action to be proscribed as terrorist organisation "Given the collapsing authority of the British state the pitiful prime minister Starmer the moral decline of British society the result cannot easily be predicted. Britain has become a cesspit." Following the collapse of All for Unity, Galloway has been leading the Workers Party of Britain since founding it in 2019. Originally from Dundee, he made a surprise return to politics when he won the Rochdale by-election following the death of Labour's Tony Lloyd, but he subsequently lost the seat at the General Election. He had dedicated his win in Rochdale to Palestine. In his victory speech he said: 'Keir Starmer: this is for Gaza." Last year, when he called a press conference to mark his return to Parliament, he said he was not 'going to fight against the SNP in here', saying his involvement in Scottish politics was over. He said while he was 'not a supporter of the SNP' he thought the party had been 'outstanding on the Gaza question, at least by comparison with the two big parties of the state'.
Daily Mirror
18-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Keir Starmer signals support for assisted dying as MPs prepare for crunch vote
Keir Starmer said his position on the highly sensitive issue of assisted dying 'is long-standing and well-known' after he voted in favour of changing the law last year Keir Starmer has suggested he backs a bid to change the law on assisted dying as MPs prepare to cast their final vote. Tensions have been mounting in Parliament over the landmark bill, as more than 50 Labour MPs urged Commons Leader Lucy Powell at the weekend to intervene to delay the crucial third reading vote to allow for more scrutiny. MPs voted by 330 to 275 in favour of legalising assisted dying in November - but it is unclear whether some MPs will switch sides when they vote on the bill in full. The Prime Minister said his position on the highly sensitive issue "is long-standing and well-known" but he stressed it was a matter for individual MPs as the government remains neutral. At November's historic 'yes' vote, when a majority of 55 supported the principle of assisted dying in England and Wales, Mr Starmer voted in favour. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has since gone through line-by-line scrutiny in tense debates in the Commons chamber. Spearheaded by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, the Bill proposes to allow terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to apply for an assisted death. It is expected MPs will hold a key vote on Friday which could either see the legislation progress to the House of Lords, or fall. Speaking to reporters, Mr Starmer said: "It is a matter for individual parliamentarians, which is why I've not waded in with a view on this publicly, and I'm not going to now, it's coming to a conclusion. "There has been a lot of time discussing it, both in Parliament and beyond Parliament, and quite right too it's a really serious issue. My own position is long-standing and well-known in relation to it, based on my experience when I was chief prosecutor for five years, where I oversaw every case that was investigated." His comments came as the ex-Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged MPs to reject the Bill, saying it had "fundamental flaws". Mr Brown said: "It has become clear that whatever views people hold on the principle, passing the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) bill into law would privilege the legal right to assisted dying without guaranteeing anything approaching an equivalent right to high-quality palliative care for those close to death." But the daughter of terminally ill broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen said England and Wales must "catch up with the rest of the world" in changing the law. Rebecca Wilcox told Sky News: "We need to show that we are an empathetic country that appreciates choice at the end of your life." She added: "It's a Bill for the terminally ill. It's a Bill for adults, and in every jurisdiction where they've had a similar Bill with such strict safeguards it is not extended to anybody else. It has not widened the scope of it. The slippery slope doesn't exist. "So what we have here, what Kim Leadbeater has brought forward and has pushed through Parliament so gracefully and so carefully and empathetically, is a really safe, clever piece of law that will stop the cruel status quo that exists at the moment where nobody knows what they can do, where people are dying in agony every single day."
Daily Record
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Scottish Labour 'naive' to expect widespread gains at 2026 Holyrood election after Hamilton victory
An ex-Labour MP urged Anas Sarwar to distance himself from unpopular policy decisions taken by Keir Starmer if he wants to become the next first minister. Scottish Labour would be "naive" to assume it can make widespread gains at the next Holyrood election on the back of its victory in Hamilton last week, a former MP has said. Anas Sarwar claimed last week it was "game on" for his party ahead of next year's poll after it pulled off a surprise by-election win in South Lanarkshire. The victory gives Labour some badly needed momentum in Scotland after its approval ratings slumped in the wake of Keir Starmer's first year in power at Westminster. But Dennis Canavan, who served as a Labour MP for 25 years, said the party needed to "beware" the rise of Reform UK after it came a close third in the by-election contest. He told the Record: "It was a surprise victory for Labour - but it would be naive to use this result to predict widespread Labour gains at next year's elections to the Scottish Parliament. "To put the result into perspective, Labour won with the support of only 14 per cent of the electorate. If Anas Sarwar really wants to improve his chances of becoming first minister, he should tell Keir Starmer to ditch his disastrous policies on things like the two child benefit cap, the WASPI women's pension rights and cuts to welfare. "Starmer is not an electoral asset, especially in Scotland, and his failure to make a personal appearance in the by-election campaign may have actually helped Davy Russell." Canavan, who quit Labour in 1999 and later served as an independent MSP, said the result was a "bitter disappointment" for the SNP. He added: "Both Labour and the SNP must beware of Reform, who came from nowhere to getting over a quarter of the vote. By next year they will probably be much more organised and may therefore present a bigger threat. "It is pointless pandering to the agenda of Reform. Starmer's recent claim that 'we risk becoming an island of strangers' sounded like the language of Nigel Farage. Responsible politicians must try to lead public opinion instead of apeing right wing extremists. "We need more emphasis on pointing out the evils of racism and positively campaigning for a fairer and more equal society. "The by-election result reveals that the majority of the electorate did not vote at all. That seems to indicate a serious disconnect between the political class and the rest of society and does not bode well for the future of democracy. "All politicians must work harder to enthuse the electorate with a positive vision of a better world." Sarwar said yesterday he had spoken to Keir Starmer following Labour's victory last week. He added that he wants to see the two-child benefit cap removed 'as fast as possible'. The Scottish Labour leader said the UK Government was already working to 'improve growth' and bring mortgage rates and energy bills down to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis. He added: 'There have been four interest rates cuts because of economic stability and those four interest rates cuts have meant that the average mortgage is down by over £1,000. 'We've started to see energy bills come down, but those need to come down much quicker, because people feel a real pressure in the cost-of-living crisis.'
Saudi Gazette
02-06-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
UK to build up to 12 new attack submarines
LONDON — The UK will build "up to" 12 new attack submarines, the prime minister will announce, as the government unveils its major defense review on Monday. The new conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines will replace the seven-strong Astute class from the late 2030s onwards. The review is expected to recommend the armed forces move to "warfighting readiness" to deter growing threats faced by the UK. The prime minister is also expected to confirm the UK will spend £15bn on its nuclear warhead program. Sir Keir will say that, alongside the UK's nuclear-armed submarines, the new vessels would keep "Britain and Nato safe for decades". The threat posed by Moscow has been a key part of the government's pitch ahead of Monday's review, led by ex-Labour defense secretary Lord Robertson, which was commissioned by Labour shortly after it took office last July. The report will make 62 recommendations, which the government is expected to accept in full. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme ahead of its publication, Sir Keir said the danger posed by Russia "cannot be ignored" and the "best way" to deter conflict was to prepare for it. The government has committed to increasing UK defence spending from 2.3% to 2.5% of national income by 2027, a move welcomed by opposition parties amid a growing consensus on boosting military expenditure. But the run-up to the review's release has been dominated by a political row over when UK spending should hit the next milestone of 3%. The government says it has an "ambition" to hit the target by 2034 at the latest, after the next general election, but the Conservatives say the move - which would hike spending by around £20bn a year - should be met by the end of the decade. Sir Keir said he would only commit the government to a timescale when he knew how it could be paid for, adding a date would otherwise be "performative". Shadow defense secretary James Cartlidge said Labour's review should be "taken with a pinch of salt" unless the government showed there would be enough money to pay for it. The Liberal Democrats have said Labour's 2034 timeline is "far too late" and have suggested an earlier date should be found in cross-party talks. The party's defense spokesperson Helen Maguire called for a "concrete commitment" on funding to back up the submarines announcement, adding that Labour had left "serious questions" over how the project would be financed. PA Media Image shows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in a white shirt and glasses, speaking to workers during a visit to Glass Futures in St Helens, Merseyside, on 29 May, 2025PA Media Other announcements in the review will include: Commitment to £1.5bn to build six new factories to enable an "always on" munitions production capacity Building up to 7,000 long-range weapons including missiles or drones in the UK, to be used by British forces Pledge to set up a "cyber and electromagnetic command" to boost the military's defensive and offensive capabilities in cyberspace Extra £1.5bn to 2029 to fund repairs to military housing £1bn on technology to speed up delivery of targeting information to soldiers Defense Secretary John Healey has signaled he is not aiming to increase the overall size of the Army before the next general election. On Sunday, he said his "first job" was to reverse a decline in numbers with a target to return to a strength of 73,000 full-time soldiers "in the next Parliament". The Astute class is the Royal Navy's current fleet of attack submarines, which have nuclear-powered engines and are armed with conventional torpedoes and missiles. As well as protecting maritime task groups and gathering intelligence, they protect the Vanguard class of submarines that carry the UK's Trident nuclear missiles. The sixth submarine in the current Astute series was launched last October, with the seventh, the final one in the series, currently under construction. The next generation of attack submarines that will replace them, SSN-AUKUS, have been developed with the Australian Navy under a deal announced in 2021 under the previous Conservative government. Meanwhile work on modernizing the warheads carried by Trident missiles is already under way. The £15bn investment into the warhead program will back the government's commitments to maintain the continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrent. In his announcement on Monday, Sir Keir is to repeat a Labour manifesto commitment to deliver the Dreadnought class of nuclear-armed submarines, which are due to replace the aging Vanguard fleet from the early 2030s onwards. The MoD's Defence Nuclear Enterprise accounts for 20% of its budget and includes the cost of building four Dreadnought class submarines. — BBC
