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The soaring NHS waiting times and backlog in emergency care and cancer treatment are significantly impacting public health and leading to avoidable deaths, as highlighted in a blunt government-commissioned report on the state of the service in England.
In response, Prime Minister Boris Johnson asserts that the health system urgently needs to “reform or perish,” given the growing demands and financial strains facing the NHS.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting underscores the critical need for a substantial shift in NHS funding towards primary care, social services, and community initiatives to alleviate the mounting pressure on hospitals.
However, the report also calls out the Conservative government for delaying vital reforms in social care and infrastructure development, prompting opposition calls for immediate action to address the NHS’s pressing challenges.
The report emphasizes the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of the NHS, focusing on digital transformation, decentralized care, and preventive measures to safeguard the health service’s future resilience.
Vocabulary List:
- Soaring /ˈsɔːrɪŋ/ (adjective): Increasing rapidly or significantly.
- Backlog /ˈbæk.lɒɡ/ (noun): A buildup of unprocessed work or tasks.
- Urgently /ˈɜːrdʒəntli/ (adverb): In a manner requiring immediate action or attention.
- Substantial /səbˈstænʃəl/ (adjective): Of considerable importance size or worth.
- Alleviate /əˈliːvi.eɪt/ (verb): To make a problem less severe.
- Overhaul /ˈoʊ.vɚ.hɔːl/ (verb): To examine and repair or improve something thoroughly.
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