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Health Services: West Midlands

Asked by Cat EcclesLabourDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 25 November 2025UIN 906548

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times from referral to specialist appointment in the Black Country.

Answered by Karin Smyth

We’ve cut waiting lists in the Black Country by more than 10% in the past year, including through the deployment of digital tools and AI to ensure more time is dedicated for patient care. But we are committed to going even further through the investment and modernisation set out in our Elective Reform Plan.

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