A HUGE post-coronavirus shake up of the NHS is set to take place, the Queen has revealed today.
The plan will consist of more funding for the NHS as well as the continuation of the vaccination programme.
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Speaking this morning during her first official ceremony since Prince Philip's funeral, Her Majesty said issues such as obesity, and treatments for new diseases would be tackled.
The 95-year-old Monarch said that the government's priority would be to deliver a national recovery from the pandemic that makes the UK "stronger, healthier and more prosperous than before".
Changes to the NHS will include more power at a local level, meaning that Trusts will be accountable for their own systems – a plan which should allow experts to give patients' the best possible treatment.
The coronavirus pandemic in the UK has been responsible for over 127,000 deaths, and in total there have been over 4.4 million cases of the virus in the UK.
Vaccines have been being rolled out since December, with three now being dosed out to Brits.
So far over 35.4 million Brits have had a first dose of either a Oxford/AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna jab – with 17.8 million now also having had a second.
During her speech today, Her Majesty highlighted the importance of the vaccine campaign and the need for further funding to the NHS.
She said: "To achieve this, my Government will level up opportunities across all parts of the United Kingdom, supporting jobs, businesses and economic growth and addressing the impact of the pandemic on public services.
"My Government will protect the health of the nation, continuing the vaccination programme and providing additional funding to support the NHS.
"My Ministers will bring forward legislation to empower the NHS to innovate and embrace technology."
Plans confirmed in the speech include:
- A new online harms bill to keep kids safe online and slam Facebook and Google if they break the rules
- Extra cash for the army
- Fresh plans for a post-Covid crackdown on obesity
- Extra help to buy homes with a planning bill to rip up red tape and ground rents to be banned for new homes
- Lifetime deposits for renters moving home
- Protecting animals' feelings in law – with proposals to force cats to get microchipped and new legislation to meet eco goals
- Ripping up the Fixed Term Parliaments Act so the PM of the day can call an election when they want
- Fresh plans for voters to take ID to the polls in future
- Levelling up and extra skills for the North – with new plans for lifetime loans
- Immigration laws to stop people crossing the channel in small boats
- New measures to crack down on foreign spies
The Monarch stated that patients will also receive more tailored and preventative care, closer to home with the use of the Health and Care Bill.
Her Majesty said: "Measures will be brought forward to support the health and wellbeing of the nation, including to tackle obesity and improve mental health.
"Proposals on social care reform will be brought forward.
"My Government will build on the success of the vaccination programme to lead the world in life sciences, pioneering new treatments against diseases like cancer and securing jobs and investment across the country."
The main benefits of the new Bill will include delivering proposals put forward for the NHS Long Term Plan.
Illnesses such as cancer and cardiovascular disease are both top priorities of the plan.
Other health concerns such as maternity and neonatal health, and mental health are also at the forefront of the plan.
For example, the plan for cancer treatment includes a package of measures to extend screening and overhaul diagnostic services with the aim of diagnosing 75 per cent of cancers at stages one or two by 2028.
During the coronavirus pandemic many vital treatments or appointments were pushed back so that medics could deal with the pandemic.
It was reported last month that a record 4.7 million people are now waiting for an NHS operation as the Covid crisis fuels delays.
Official data shows 387,885 patients have been languishing longer than 12 months for non-urgent treatment.
There are now 240 times more people facing long delays compared to a year earlier – when just 1,613 had been stuck on the lists for more than 52 weeks.
Year-long waits for elective procedures – such as hip and knee surgery – are now at their worst level since 2007.
NHS England said almost two million operations took place despite the winter peak.
As of February 2021, the waiting list for referral to treatment in England was 4,698,348 and the number of people waiting over 52 weeks was 387,885, the NHS has said.
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