Javid warns that NHS is 'frozen in time'

SENIOR Tory Sajid Javid has called for an overhaul of the NHS, branding the service outdated.

- Martyn Brown

Ahead of its 75th anniversary today, the former Health Secretary said the structure of the NHS has left Britons sicker than those in many other Western countries.

He said it remained "frozen in time" and both major political parties privately believe the NHS is "unsustainable" and will be unable to cope with surging demand despite record levels of funding.

Writing in a newspaper, Mr Javid said a "dispassionate and honest assessment" of the service is required to "make sure the NHS is here in another 75 years". He 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.

"It's a direct consequence of how the NHS is still structured. Since it was established in 1948, the world has significantly changed yet much of the institution remains frozen in time."

Highlighting Britain's ageing population and the lingering impact of the pandemic, Mr Javid said the supply of healthcare will continue to be outstripped by soaring demand. "All of this is at a time of record funding for the NHS," he wrote. In 2000, the health budget accounted for 27 per cent of day-to-day public spending. Next year it will hit 44 per cent, larger than the GDP of Greece.

Struggles