January 18th, 2024.

Lewes Lib Dems release:



NHS waiting lists for the University Sussex Hospital Trust which includes Lewes Victoria, the Royal Sussex in Brighton and the Princess Royal in Haywards Heath have hit 145,651, up from 122,167 when Rishi Sunak made his pledge to cut them at the start of last year. Lewes Lib Dems have called for the government to reverse its NHS spending cuts.

NHS data also reveals that the number waiting over a year for treatment has risen by well over 5,000 since Sunak made his waiting lists pledge.

It comes as the Conservative government slashes funding for the NHS despite waiting lists growing compared to last year. The Autumn Statement revealed that the NHS budget has been cut by £3.5 billion (2.1%) in real terms this year, and is set to fall by another £1.3 billion (0.8%) next year.

Lewes Liberal Democrats are calling on the Conservative government to reverse the NHS spending cuts and invest in fixing local hospitals, hiring more staff and ensuring patients get the treatment they deserve.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary spokesperson for Lewes, James MacCleary, (pictured), said: “These shocking figures show far too many people here are being left waiting endlessly in pain for treatment. People deserve a local health service that delivers the care they deserve when they need it.

“One year on from when Rishi Sunak promised that waiting lists would fall, thousands of people in our community are still stuck on waiting lists with their lives put on hold or unable to work. It is yet another broken health promise from this failing Conservative government.

“Now they are set to do the unthinkable and slash NHS funding even further. Local health services are in crisis but Conservative ministers like Lewes MP Maria Caulfield either don’t get it or don’t care. The recent critical incident at the Royal Sussex and the Princess Royal shows just how close to catastrophe our hospitals are after years of underfunding.

“It shows the Conservative Party cannot be trusted with the NHS. Hospital waiting lists are spiralling, people are finding it hard to see a GP and NHS dentists are practically a thing of the past. We need a general election now so voters in Lewes can finally get rid of this out-of-touch Conservative government and elect a Liberal Democrat MP who will stand up for local health services.”