PMQs verdict: Corbyn hits May's achilles heel with NHS zinger

This week’s PMQs focused on the NHS, with Jeremy Corbyn emphasising Stephen Hawking’s passionate support for the health service to challenge Theresa May on the government’s NHS record. After condemning vile messages sent to Muslim MPs and the rise in Islamophobia, the Labour leader paid tribute to Hawking, saying he helped our understanding of the universe. The physicist was also a passionate campaigner for the NHS and backed universal healthcare.

Referencing the Guardian’s story about Albert Thompson, Corbyn asked how it was possible that someone who had lived and worked in the UK for decades was denied access to healthcare.

May said the government wanted to ensure treatments were as good as they could be but added that she was not aware of this case. She promised to look into it if Corbyn sent her details.

May said that on cancer treatment there was more diagnostic tests taking place and more people were receiving treatment. She said patients should get the right treatment.

Corbyn pivoted to A&E performance, saying February was the worst month for missing targets. He quoted a doctor saying the NHS needed the right long-term settlement. So why didn’t it get extra money in Tuesday’s spring statement?

May said she did not wait until Tuesday to announce more money; more was announced in the autumn budget.

Corbyn said under Labour the 18-week target for non-urgent operations was in place. That had been abandoned. When would it be reinstated?

Source: theguardian