DOWNING Street has rejected calls for a public inquiry into the NHS despite concerns over “unsustainable” pressure on patient care.
Former Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the service was still creaking under demand but swallowing up even more cash.
AFPFormer Health Secretary Sajid Javid has slammed the ‘unsustainable’ pressure on NHS[/caption]
He urged PM Rishi Sunak to launch a royal commission before “fundamental change” to the NHS, whose structures are “frozen in time” and making Brits sicker.
Mr Javid said: “No universal healthcare system is perfect, but when you compare health outcomes in the UK with similar countries, it is clear that for decades we have fallen short across successive governments.”
Yesterday, the PM’s spokesman dismissed the idea of a commission and insisted current reforms would help to ease the burden on stretched hospitals and GPs.
He said: “Royal commissions can take time. We need to act now and that’s what we’re doing.”
Mr Sunak will miss Prime Minister’s Questions today to attend a service honouring the 75th birthday of the NHS at Westminster Abbey, where he will give a reading.
He is also due to miss next week’s bout with Sir Keir Starmer to fly to the Nato summit in Lithuania.
Critics point out he has the worst attendance record of any PM at PMQs in recent times – ducking 17 per cent of Commons clash.