Jon Trickett

Shortest hospital waits ever in Hemsworth

The NHS now has the shortest waits since its records began, Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced on Thursday. 

New data shows that in Hemsworth and across England the NHS has met its target to treat patients within a maximum of 18 weeks from referral by their GP – an achievement which was unimaginable 12 years ago.  When the Tories left office, their target was a staggering 18 months, which clearly demonstrates the remarkable transformation that the NHS has undergone over the last decade.

Jon Trickett MP said:

"This is a tremendous achievement by NHS clinicians and staff in Hemsworth who should be proud of the difference their hard work has made to the experience of every NHS patient.   

"Achieving the shortest waits since NHS records began has made a huge difference to patients’ experiences of the NHS.  In the 1990s it was not uncommon for people to wait 18 months, or more for their operation – with some people dying on the waiting list.

"The NHS is one of our country's greatest achievements and I will always value and stand up for it. I'm proud that over Labour’s years in government, we have made sure the NHS has the staff it needs and backed them to deliver improvements in standards and driving down waits.  Today's news is further evidence that this investment has worked."