NHS Reduces Targets and Cuts Managerial Jobs to Address Overspending

Health Secretary Wes Streeting prioritizes waiting lists and emergency care, drawing criticism for deprioritizing dementia and women’s health targets.

The NHS has reduced its national performance targets from 32 to 18, focusing on cutting waiting lists, improving A&E response times, and enhancing GP access.
Targets for dementia care, women’s health hubs, and learning disability health checks have been removed, sparking backlash from charities and patient advocates.
The changes are part of a broader effort to address overspending, with NHS England cutting 2,000 managerial jobs to save £325 million for frontline services.
Local NHS leaders have been given more autonomy to allocate resources but must adhere to strict budget constraints, prompting warnings about potential reductions in preventive care services.
Critics argue that deprioritizing women’s health and dementia services undermines previous commitments and risks worsening health outcomes for vulnerable groups.