THE leader of Colchester Conservatives has said his party must face the fact that it did “not leave an NHS performing in the way that we should wish” following the release of a major government report.

The Darzi Report, which was commissioned by Labour Health Secretary Wes Streeting, said 14,000 additional deaths were likely to have been caused by long waiting times.

Hospital procedure waiting times have risen 15-fold with more than 300,000 patients waiting more than a year in June 2024 compared to just 20,000 in March 2010.

It also said the last decade was the most austere since the NHS was founded with spending growth until 2018 growing at one per cent in real terms.

Councillor Paul Dundas, leader of the Conservatives in Colchester, said: "I welcome any sensible discussions about the future of the NHS and an increasing recognition by all political parties the discussion should not be just about money.

“The Conservatives made large increases in NHS spending in real terms from £131billion in 2010 to £178billion in 2023/24 - a 36 per cent real terms increase - yet I think everyone would agree we do not have the NHS we wish for."

He added: “I agree with some of the Darzi report and welcome anything which starts a sensible debate on the way forward.

“However, I find it remarkable that the report fails to mention in any way the Covid pandemic and the inevitable long-term effect this has had on NHS performance, including a massive waiting list backlog. 

Mr Dundas said Colchester also has access issues with GPs, dentists and social care, adding: “Despite very big spending increases, as Conservatives, we must face the fact that, Covid notwithstanding, we did not leave an NHS performing in a way that we would wish.

“There will never be limitless money - not for a Conservative Government, a Labour Government or one from any other political parties - so as a nation we must take a long honest look at how we deliver the NHS we all want with the resources the country has available." 

Mr Dundas said the new Government had made “big promises on health, and said he hoped he and his colleagues were willing to enter “any constructive debates” about how to provide a “health system which delivers for everyone".