Streeting 'open to serious proposals from the NHS or indeed anyone else'

Health Secretary on private sector quéue-cut hopes

- LIZZY BUCHAN

WES Streeting says he will look to the private sector to drive down NHS waiting lists as he admitted patients could still be stuck in hospital corridors at Christmas.

The Health Secretary said he was open to proposals from independent providers as he battles to slash the Tory legacy of the enormous NHS backlog, which in December sat around 7.46million.

As we reported, the government announced yesterday it had met its election pledge to deliver two million more appointments in its first year early. Between July and November last year there were almost 2.2 million extra elective care appointments compared to the same period in 2023, when the health service was beset by strikes.

Mr But Streeting said there would be no victory laps.

He said: "There are still massive challenges in the NHS, a hell of a lot further to go on waiting lists.