Streeting Sets Out NHS Recovery Progress and Social Care Commitments in UEL Speech

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting has outlined progress on NHS recovery, alongside renewed commitments to social care reform and workforce support, in a major address delivered at the University of East London on 25 March.

Speaking to an audience of health leaders, staff and students, the Health Secretary sought to counter what he described as a growing “cynicism” about the ability of public services to deliver meaningful change, positioning the NHS as a central pillar of collective action and national values.

Streeting stated that the NHS is now “in a better state” than when the current government took office, pointing to a reduction in waiting lists by 374,000 patients, alongside improved A&E performance and ambulance response times.

He also highlighted increased patient satisfaction with GP access, rising from around 60% to 77%, and improved staff retention levels compared with the past decade outside of the pandemic period.

The government, he said, has exceeded several early workforce commitments, including the recruitment of 2,000 additional GPs against a target of 1,000 in the first year, and significant expansion of mental health staffing. In addition, more than 900,000 children and young people now have access to NHS-funded mental health support teams in schools.

The Health Secretary reiterated that the government is investing an additional £26 billion into the NHS and £4.6 billion into social care by the end of the current Parliament. Measures include the introduction of the first fair pay agreement for care workers, backed by £500 million, and what he described as the largest expansion of Carer’s Allowance since the 1970s.

Social Care and Workforce Reform

For the care sector, Streeting’s comments are likely to be of particular interest, with an emphasis on improving pay and conditions for care workers and strengthening financial support for unpaid carers.

He also pointed to a modest improvement in public perceptions, citing recent survey data showing a reduction in dissatisfaction with social care.

However, he acknowledged that significant challenges remain, particularly in ensuring consistent quality across the system and addressing longstanding workforce pressures.

Tackling Variation and Underperformance

A central theme of the speech was variation in performance across NHS providers.

While some organisations are delivering strong outcomes, Streeting warned that this is masking “chronic underperformance” elsewhere.

He announced a new “intensive recovery programme” targeting the worst-performing providers, with intervention measures including leadership support and, where necessary, structural reorganisation.

The approach signals a more interventionist stance from government, with a clear message that persistent poor performance will no longer be tolerated.

Integration and Community-Based Care

Reform plans also include a continued shift towards community-based care, with the development of neighbourhood health centres intended to bring services closer to people’s homes and reduce hospital admissions.

Streeting reiterated the government’s longer-term ambition to move care delivery:
• from hospital to community
• from analogue to digital
• from sickness to prevention

He confirmed that further integration between health and social care will be tested through new place-based models, alongside devolution pilots giving regional leaders greater influence over health outcomes.

Technology and Patient Empowerment

The speech also outlined a strong focus on digital transformation, including expanded use of the NHS App and the future role of artificial intelligence in diagnostics and administration.

Streeting indicated that new initiatives will give patients greater control over their care, including the ability to influence provider payments based on service quality and to opt out of unnecessary follow-up appointments.

Realism on Ongoing Pressures

Despite highlighting progress, Streeting acknowledged that the NHS is “still nowhere near good enough”, referencing continued instances of poor patient experience, including corridor care and long waits.

He stressed that while improvements are being made, they are not yet consistently felt across the country, and restoring public confidence will depend on sustained delivery.

Outlook

The Health Secretary concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to long-term reform through its 10-Year Health Plan, arguing that a combination of investment, modernisation and system reform is beginning to deliver measurable results.

For the care sector, the speech signals continued policy focus on workforce conditions, funding, and closer integration with health services—alongside an expectation of greater accountability and performance improvement across the system.