Publish date: 23 December 2022
Dear colleagues
While many people enjoy some rest this Christmas, staff across the NHS are working hard in what could be the most challenging winter in our history.
Dealing with the initial waves of Covid was exceptionally tough. But recovering from the effects of the pandemic at the same time as dealing with the ongoing pressures has been arguably even tougher.
The NHS is currently facing record demand for many services – from GPs to mental health and, of course, urgent and emergency care.
Despite these pressures, I am proud to say NHS staff are rising to the challenge every single day.
Over 2022 we have got two-year waits for routine hospital care down to almost zero, and are now making good progress on our next target.
Since January record numbers of patients have received urgent cancer checks, while GP practices have delivered 324 million appointments in the last 12 months on top of the Covid vaccine programme.
And we have fast-tracked the roll out of mental health teams in 4,700 schools, to offer support to a quarter of pupils in England, a year ahead of schedule.
These are just a few examples of the incredible commitment to patient care shown by NHS teams up and down the country.
Together we have also shown the NHS remains at the forefront of innovation, with the introduction of laser beam surgery to treat epilepsy and genetic testing for babies among a number of new advances in our offer to patients over the last year.
Throughout its 74-year history our national health service has repeatedly delivered medical world firsts – from the first kidney transplant, to the first IVF baby and the first Covid jab outside clinical trials.
These breakthroughs have all been thanks to NHS staff - doctors, nurses, therapists, scientists, and many more - who have innovated and adapted to meet the changing needs of each successive generation.
Next year, we will mark the 75th birthday of the NHS.
And as difficult as things are now, it is because we are a national health service, with a shared core value of doing our very best for everyone who needs our help, that I believe we can face the next 75 years with confidence, and continue to justify the faith and pride that the public have in us.
So I want to finish by saying a huge thank you to all the NHS family, from clinical staff to the cooks, cleaners, porters and many more besides, for what you have collectively achieved this year, and of course for those who will be working around the clock over Christmas and New Year to care for patients.
We owe you all a huge debt of gratitude for your continued efforts.
Amanda