Wes Streeting’s tenure as health secretary, which ended with his resignation on Thursday, has drawn sharp criticism from NHS experts and MPs who argue that his ambitious rhetoric was not matched by tangible results. Streeting frequently declared the NHS “on the road to recovery” after inheriting what he called a “broken” service from the Conservatives, pointing to improvements in waiting times for planned treatment, ambulance response times, and A&E performance.
However, critics say these claims were highly selective. Targets for urgent cancer treatment remain unmet, and multiple reviews into long-standing issues—including maternity care, mental health demand, and social care—have been commissioned but are yet to report, with the social care inquiry not due until 2028. Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the King’s Fund, acknowledged Streeting’s energy but questioned whether implementation of the government’s 10-year health plan had received equal focus.
A former NHS executive described Streeting as unprepared for turning rhetoric into reality, noting a lack of detailed plans for transforming the NHS and social care. One hospital trust chief executive was blunt: “Wes talked a lot … but not effective,” adding that NHS England chief Jim Mackey did the “heavy lifting.” A Labour MP with NHS experience accused Streeting of prioritising headlines over patient care, saying “nothing’s ever been quite what it seemed.”
Streeting’s achievements include the Tobacco and Vapes Act, a ban on junk food adverts before 9pm, and a 10-year health plan based on “three big shifts.” Yet the plan lacked an implementation chapter. Siva Anandaciva of the King’s Fund noted Streeting faced a difficult context: a stagnating economy, post-Covid recovery, industrial action, and a febrile environment. Despite this, the verdict from many is that Streeting told a good story but failed to deliver the change the NHS urgently needed.
