by the Health Team

What were the hot topics for healthcare in this 2024 election?

As the UK goes to the polls today (July 4, 2024), healthcare remained a cornerstone of the political debate. In a recent survey we carried out across the sector, capacity and resilience remain the highest priorities for those responsible for delivering change.

The spending cuts over several years, allied to the spike in UK population,  has seen a widely documented decline in the accessibility and availability of our health service, with the NHS under growing pressure to deliver more for less. In an effort to respond to these issues, here’s how the Conservative and Labour parties addressed some of these crucial areas in their manifestos.

Waiting times

Since 2010, most waiting list and waiting time targets in England have been missed. The goal of 92% of patients receiving treatment within 18 weeks of referral has not been achieved since September 2015. Both parties prioritises this issue in their 2024 manifestos, with Labour presenting a potentially more effective plan and offering a fresh approach.

Sir Keir Starmer describes it as “the first step” in revitalising the health service. Labour’s strategy includes adding 40,000 weekly appointments, scans, and operations during evenings and weekends, and doubling the number of diagnostic scanners to ensure earlier detection and treatment. They also propose using private sector capacity at no cost to patients to manage overflow and reduce wait times.

Labour’s funding mechanism, focusing on clamping down on tax dodgers, provides a clear financial strategy to support these initiatives. However, the plan represents an increase of less than 2%, which might be enough to get waiting times back on track, but delivering on that plan remains uncertain.

With already long wait times getting longer, cutting the time it takes for patients to receive their care will be a topic under much scrutiny as a new Parliamentary term begins. Supporting clinical and managerial staff across the NHS, as well as the implementation of new and emerging technologies such as AI, will be key in ensuring that the promises made by Labour can come to fruition. Consideration of the real, operational effects on frontline workforce from the introduction of new working times, technologies and public expectations will need to be taken seriously by the NHS and the Department of Health, amongst others.

Workforce

Both parties emphasise significant workforce expansions. The Conservatives aim to recruit 92,000 nurses and 28,000 doctors, alongside boosting training places for dentists by 40%. While Labour focuses on a long-term workforce plan, promising more GPs and a modernised appointment system. Implementing the workforce plan may require real funding growth of 3.6% per year. The IFS points out the uncertainty in how these spending increases will be financed, emphasising a lack of detailed funding plans in both manifestos. 

Notwithstanding the very hazy source of financing for these promised workforce upsurge, if it does actually happen, what challenges will this bring? A sudden influx of new staff may require an agile approach to integration and training and development with a massive pressure on leadership to ensure a successful intake. There may be resistance to change from existing staff as well as a pressure on existing infrastructure, so the right planning and messaging are key.

What is to come?

As a consulting firm based in the public sector, we can see that both parties understand the critical need to enhance NHS capacity and resilience. However, the feasibility of their ambitious plans remains in question.

For stakeholders and voters, the election today is no longer about promises but about the practicality and sustainability of the proposed healthcare reforms. The outcome will significantly shape the future of UK healthcare, and outside of any immediate benefits that might accrue, it is crucial that the long-term viability of these proposals are impact assessed. 

Additionally, there are several core areas of service delivery – digital health, women’s health, dental care – that have not been addressed here. For a comprehensive understanding, we recommend reading the full manifestos to make an informed decision.

As we continue to analyse and consult on these issues, our goal is to provide clear, actionable insights that help navigate the complex landscape of healthcare policy and its implications for the NHS. If you have questions about how a new government could cause real operational challenges within your healthcare organisation and want to talk to one of our experts about how to best prepare, get in touch at hello@the4oc.com.