Starmer’s Shadow Health Team has seen significant changes. Karin Smyth has been appointed Shadow Minister of State for Health, deputising for Streeting on NHS Reform.

An estimated 340,000 people died whilst on a waiting list in 2022, compared to 240,000 in 2017 - a 42 per cent rise, which represents more than 60 per cent of all deaths in England.

Health has taken centre stage of the political debate this summer. In July, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed government backing for the NHS’ 15-year workforce plan, which sets out ideas to address many of the challenges we see today - a public sector recruitment crisis, record waiting lists, and widening health inequalities. Whilst Labour Leader Keir Starmer has revealed the ‘meat on the bones’ of his NHS Mission.

As climate records tumble and political parties review their policies to reflect perceived voter sentiment, the evidence continues to stack up to show that the burden of climate change, and in particular that of air pollution, is borne by the most disadvantaged communities

The scale and impact of the growth in the number of people living with major illness as the population ages has been laid bare in ground-breaking new analysis. It makes for shocking reading, with over nine million people projected to be living with major illness by 2040, an increase of 2.5 million since 2019.

Leading businesses were joined by Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression, Mims Davies MP, at a Women in the Workplace roundtable, to discuss how better employee engagement can break down barriers around the menopause and transform the workplace for women.

The urgent need to level up the most disadvantaged areas of the country, particularly targeting women experiencing inequality, was highlighted by new research which shows that in 2021, a woman in the North East of England was 1.7 times more likely to die early as a result of suicide, addiction or murder by a partner or family member than the rest of England and Wales, an increase of 15 per cent since 2018.

NHS leaders have voiced concerns that the continued delay in the publication by the Government of an NHS workforce plan is leaving the NHS in limbo.

As we approach the next election, health will remain a crucial battleground. It’s one of the most important issues facing voters, and any political party putting themselves up for election without a clear plan to deliver the health services people want to see is unlikely to win.