Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Denis Campbell Health policy editor

Starmer unlikely to fulfil pledge on hospital waiting times, says IFS

Keir Starmer, left, and the health secretary, Wes Streeting, on a visit to University College London hospital last September.
Keir Starmer, left, and the health secretary, Wes Streeting, on a visit to University College London hospital last September. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/AP

Keir Starmer is unlikely to fulfil his pledge to restore the maximum 18-week wait for planned hospital care before the next election, a leading thinktank has said.

The prime minister has made bringing back the 18-week access standard in England, by ensuring that 92% of patients are seen within that time, one of the six “milestones” he has promised to achieve by 2029.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.