Health secretary accused of talking ‘utter nonsense’ about private sector’s ability to help cut NHS waiting times

Wes Streeting has defended the growing use of the private sector to help tackle long waiting lists for treatment but said providers must “pull their weight” and not take resources away from the NHS.

The health secretary, who has previously said “middle-class lefties” risked putting ideological purity ahead of patient care, said he would be “entirely pragmatic” about using spare capacity in the private sector.