LONDON (AFP) – United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Saturday called for “bold and radical” action to reform the crisis-hit state healthcare system as he held emergency talks with health leaders.
Hospital and ambulance staff have launched rare strike action – in the case of the nurses, for the first time in 100 years – with many members of the public sympathetic to their cause.
The meeting came ahead of talks planned between government officials and union leaders today, aimed at ending the strikes. “During the pandemic we had to bring boldness and radicalism to how we did things in order to get through,” the prime minister was quoted as saying by Downing Street.
“I think we need that same bold and radical approach now.”
He added: “Together today, we can figure out the things that will make the biggest difference to the country and everyone’s family, in the short and medium term.”
