Prime Minister’s reaction to NHS woes raises eyebrows during regional visit

In a surprising turn of events during his regional visits in the south-east of England, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced a heated confrontation with a former NHS worker in Winchester. The woman, whose daughter endured a seven-hour A&E wait, approached Sunak on dire NHS waiting times, resulting in an unexpected reaction from the Prime Minister.

Sunak, seemingly dismissive, burst into laughter as the woman asserted that he had the power to “make it all go back to how it used to be.” Despite the serious nature of the discussion, Sunak responded by highlighting a decrease in waiting lists during strike-free months, leaving the woman unimpressed.

The woman, visibly frustrated, retorted, “But you could stop it all. You could make it all go back to how it used to be.” Sunak’s laughter continued, prompting a response from the woman: “Well, not literally. But where if you had a problem you could go to the hospital. My daughter spent seven hours waiting with an asthma problem… and it’s not good.”

Expressing sympathy, Sunak stated, “I’m sorry to hear that. The key thing is that we have resolved all the industrial action in the NHS apart from the junior doctors who are still not saying yes, but everyone else has said yes.” The encounter concluded with the woman shaking Sunak’s hand, thanking him.

In an additional twist, Tory MP Flick Drummond, walking alongside Sunak, mentioned plans to inject a billion pounds into the NHS in Winchester. However, concerns were raised as the woman urged Sunak not to send A&E to Basingstoke, referring to potential closures and a new acute specialist hospital.

Lib Dem MP Christine Jardine criticized Sunak’s response, stating, “Out of touch does not even begin to describe Rishi Sunak’s attitude to the NHS.” She emphasized the disconnect between the government’s funding cuts for the NHS and patients enduring prolonged waits.

As the NHS continues to grapple with challenges, this incident sheds light on the public’s frustration and the political response to a healthcare system under strain.