– Rishi Sunak pledged to cut NHS waiting lists in January 2023, since then they have risen by 6,171 in Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust

– Waiting lists in Sandwell and West Birmingham now stand at 76,420 after Conservative government has slashed real-terms NHS funding by billions

– Lib Dems call for a reversal to NHS spending cuts that are leaving local health services overstretched

NHS waiting lists in Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust have hit 76,420, up from 70,249 when Rishi Sunak made his pledge to cut them at the start of last year. Sandwell Lib Dems have called for the government to reverse its NHS spending cuts. The NHS is not safe in Tory hands.

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. Sandwell’s 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 spokesperson for West Bromwich, Parmjit Singh Gill said:

“These shocking figures show far too many people in West Bromwich 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.

“Now this government is set to do the unthinkable and slash NHS funding even further. Local health services are in crisis but Conservative ministers either don’t get it or don’t care.

“It shows the Conservative Party cannot be trusted with the NHS. We need a general election now so voters in West Bromwich 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.”