Therese Coffey inherits NHS ‘in crisis’

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Therese Coffey has inherited an NHS and social care system “in crisis”, health leaders have said. Health leaders said that the pressing items in Ms Coffey’s in-tray will include: – A record waiting list; – Problems in urgent and emergency care; – Soaring numbers of patients stuck in hospital due to so-called “delayed discharges”; – A crisis in dentistry services with many struggling to access care; – challenges facing mental health, community, acute and ambulance services; – Worries over winter pressures including further waves of Covid-19 and additional pressures from flu; – Concerns over how the cost of living crisis will impact the health service; – The possibility of health and care staff taking industrial action over pay. We hope that she, and the new Health and Social Care Secretary, will not duck these big issues and work with those on the frontline to deliver solutions Saffron Cordery, NHS Providers Ms Coffey takes over as Health Secretary from Steve Barclay who moves to the backbenches after a brief time in the role following Sajid Javid’s resignation in June 2022. “These concerns are made significantly more worrying by the cost-of-living crisis and so, like the rest of the country we are eager to understand the detail of the Government’s promised intervention this week.” The workforce crisis cannot be the elephant in the room any longer - politicians skirt around the issue but, without enough staff, new promises will not be deliverable Pat Cullen, Royal College of Nursing Professor Philip Banfield, council chair at the British Medical Association, said: “Ms Coffey takes office at a time of greater crisis in the NHS than any of her predecessors.