Summary: NHS patients face prolonged wait times for elective surgeries due to industrial action and other contributing factors. Tens of thousands of routine operations and procedures are canceled or delayed during strikes, exacerbating the waiting list crisis. Efforts to reduce waiting times and recover from the pandemic's impact are hindered by ongoing industrial action . ...

Summary: The police in England and Wales aim to reduce mental health call-outs from 80% to 20-30%. Patients detained under the Mental Health Act could see their waiting time reduced from 12 hours to one hour with the new plan. The police expect to save approximately one million hours of police time annually through this approach. The saved police hours will be utilized for increased patrolling, faster emergency response, and better crime investigation resources. The government will support the initiative by providing additional mental health ambulances and crisis cafes. ...