Ed Davey unveils new “Patients’ Charter” with guarantees on GP appointments and cancer treatment

EMBARGO: 22:30 Saturday 29th of June

• 110 NHS Trusts found to be missing key targets on A&E, cancer and treatment waiting times

• Liberal Democrats announce plans to enshrine new patients’ rights in the NHS Constitution

• The new “Patients’ Charter” would give people a legal right to see a GP within a week and start cancer treatment within two months

• Ed Davey calls for “power back in the hands of patients after years of being taken for granted by the Conservative government.”

The Liberal Democrat Leader will today (Sunday 30th of June) unveil his party’s plans to create a new “Patients’ Charter.”

The Charter would be enshrined in the NHS Constitution and would give patients in England unprecedented new rights – including to see a GP within a week or 24 hours if in urgent need, and to start cancer treatment within 62 days of urgent referral.

It comes as research by the Liberal Democrats finds that 110 NHS trusts in England missed all three major waiting time targets, covering A&E waits, cancer care and hospital treatment.

Under NHS targets, 95% of patients in A&E should be seen within four hours, 85% of patients should begin cancer treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral, and 92% of patients should begin elective (non-urgent) treatment within 18 weeks. The Liberal Democrat analysis of the latest NHS figures shows that 110 NHS trusts missed all three of these key targets in April 2024.

The Liberal Democrat proposal for the Patients’ Charter includes:

• The right to see a GP within seven days, or within 24 hours if in urgent need. 

• The right to start cancer treatment within 62 days from urgent referral.

• Guaranteed access to free dental check-ups for children, pregnant women, new mothers and those on low-incomes.

• A new legal right to a second opinion across the NHS, building on the roll out of Martha’s Rule.

The Patients’ Charter would be backed up by a £5 billion-a-year rescue package for health services, including increasing the number of GPs by 8,000, hiring 3,400 specialist cancer nurses, and attracting more dentists back to the NHS. The multi-billion-pound health package would be funded through closing Capital Gains Tax loopholes exploited by the top 0.1% wealthiest people.

The party has also announced a ten-year plan to invest in hospitals to end the scandal of crumbling roofs, dangerous concrete and life-expired buildings.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: 

“There has never been a worse time to be a patient, with health services overstretched and NHS targets routinely missed.

“Tens of thousands of people are waiting months for urgent cancer treatment, and too often people simply can’t find a GP or NHS dentist when they desperately need one.

“It’s time to put power back in the hands of patients after years of being taken for granted by this Conservative Government. Our Patients’ Charter would give people new rights to see a GP within a week or 24 hours if it’s urgent, and to start cancer treatment within 62 days.

“The Liberal Democrats have put health and care at the heart of our fair deal for the country, to make sure everyone gets the care and support they need.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Liberal Democrats have set out a £5 billion-a-year rescue package for health services which includes increasing the number of GPs by 8,000, hiring 3,400 specialist cancer nurses, and attracting more dentists back to the NHS.

The new rights would be enshrined in the NHS Constitution, which already sets out a number of other patients’ rights. That would place a legal duty on the Government and the NHS to put the policies and resources in place to achieve them.

Liberal Democrat analysis of NHS targets by Trust here.

NHS targets missed

A&E four hour wait target April (95%): A&E Attendances and Emergency Admissions 2024-25

62 day cancer treatment target April: Cancer Waiting Times standards

18 week target April: Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times Data 2024-25