Health Secretary WES Streeting today announced plans to expand access to weight-loss medications for millions of Britons, urging resistant medical unions to cease attempts to impede progress and transform the NHS into a “20th century relic,” reports BritPanorama.
Streeting addressed delegates at the Labour Party conference, affirming his commitment to digitising the NHS, including implementing an online appointment booking system despite threats of a strike from the British Medical Association (BMA). He stated, “Tomorrow, we are reforming general practice, so patients can request appointments online at any point of the day.”
The Health Secretary pointed out that many General Practices have already embraced modern methods, asking, “Why shouldn’t booking a GP appointment be as easy as booking a delivery, taxi, or takeaway?” He criticized the BMA’s stance as anachronistic, expressing concern that yielding to conservative forces could lead to significant setbacks for the health service.
On the subject of obesity, Streeting vowed to “finally defeat obesity” by making weight-loss drugs available for free to those in need, deeming this initiative a pivotal shift comparable to a “new industrial revolution.” He highlighted the disparity in health access, stating, “The wealthy talk about how they’ve transformed their health, their confidence, their quality of life. But what about the millions who can’t afford them? That is a return to the days when health was determined by wealth.”
He promised to make it his “historic duty” to ensure that these life-changing treatments are accessible to all, not just a privileged few. In a lighter moment, Streeting referenced his colleagues’ use of weight-loss injections, clarifying, “Half the House of Commons tea room talk about the impact they’ve had — not in my case.”
Obesity-related health issues currently cost the NHS nearly £6 billion annually, underlining the urgency of this initiative. Under the new guidelines, individuals with a BMI of 35 or higher, or a BMI of 30 with specific health conditions, may be prescribed these medications through specialist services. This measure is part of Streeting’s broader ten-year health plan aimed at modernising the UK’s healthcare system.
