Power to Patients as Government Sets Out Plan to Cut NHS Waiting Lists-Preet Kaur Gill MP

Birmingham — Preet Kaur Gill, MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, has welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement of a transformative new package of reforms designed to reduce NHS waiting lists and give patients more control over their healthcare. The new plan, unveiled on Monday, includes significant measures to enhance patient choice, streamline the booking process for appointments, and ensure better access to treatment.

At the heart of these reforms is an upgraded NHS App, which will enable patients to select their healthcare provider, book appointments across a range of settings, and access test results—all in one convenient platform. This marks a major step toward modernizing the NHS and empowering patients to make informed decisions about their care.

“Patients deserve the power to choose how and when they receive treatment,” said Preet Kaur Gill. “It should be as convenient as possible for patients to access healthcare. Every single one of my constituents, regardless of their wealth, should be able to exercise choice and control when booking appointments and receiving treatment from our NHS. This Labour government is delivering on our promise to put patients first, bring our analogue NHS into the digital age, and cut waiting lists so that people and their families will be treated on time for good.”

The plan also seeks to address a long-standing issue within the NHS: fewer than a quarter of patients are currently offered a choice of hospital when seeking treatment. By expanding the range of providers available and making the booking process more user-friendly, the government aims to give every patient greater choice, ensuring that their healthcare is tailored to their needs.

In addition to improving patient choice, the reforms will set clear minimum standards for what patients can expect while waiting for care. This includes ensuring that waiting times are kept to a minimum, and that patients are well-informed at every step of their treatment journey.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, also praised the initiative, stating: “If the wealthy can choose where and when they are treated, then working class patients should be able to as well, and this government will give them that choice. Our plan will reform the NHS, so patients are fully informed every step of the way through their care, they are given proper choice to go to a different provider for a shorter wait, and put in control of their own healthcare.”

“This government’s reform agenda will take the NHS from a one size fits all, top-down, ‘like it or lump it’ service, to a modern service that puts patients in the driving seat and treats them on time – delivering on our Plan for Change to drive a decade of national renewal,” added Striating.

The new plan represents a pivotal shift in the way the NHS operates, with a focus on empowering patients, cutting waiting times, and ensuring everyone receives high-quality care when they need it. By embracing digital tools and improving patient experience, the government is setting a new course for a modern NHS that is responsive, efficient, and patient-centered.

Top New World+