Keir Starmer says Welsh NHS needs reform

Cutting waiting times has been named as a top priority by new First Minister Eluned Morgan.

Earlier this week she said reform was necessary, “but it’s difficult to do that when you’ve got long waiting lists that have to be our priority at the moment”.

In a BBC Wales interview ahead of the Labour conference, the prime minister said he and Morgan had discussed the state of the health service.

“I think what we need to do is to roll up our sleeves, collaborate, share best practice and bring about not just the investment but the reform that is desperately needed across the delivery of health, whether that’s in Wales or elsewhere,” he said.

Wales’ health service has been overseen by Labour-led governments since devolution in 1999.

Sir Keir was asked if his party’s Welsh government had done a good job with the NHS during a quarter century in power.

But he simply said: “There are challenges that need to be met, there’s no doubt about that and I’m not going to pretend to you otherwise.

“My job with the first minister is to work together to rise to whatever challenges there are and opportunities across Wales and I’m determined to do so.”