In a dramatic pledge to save the ailing National Health Service, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared on Thursday that only a sweeping 10-year reform plan could pull the NHS from the brink of collapse. Warning that there would be “no more money without radical change,” Starmer issued a stark ultimatum: “It’s reform or die.”
With the NHS buckling under the weight of post-COVID backlogs, an aging population, and workforce strikes, Starmer vowed to push through fundamental reforms. “The NHS needs major surgery, not quick fixes,” he said, acknowledging that his plan would not be immediately popular but was essential for the long-term survival of the healthcare system.
The Labour leader, who secured a landslide victory in July’s election, blamed the previous Conservative government for “breaking” the NHS, citing a damning report that found the system entered the pandemic with resilience at an all-time low.
While offering few specifics, Starmer promised a shift to digital healthcare, stronger community care, and a focus on preventive measures to ease the strain on the system. His critics, however, accused him of failing to outline meaningful actions and merely trading rhetoric for real solutions.
