Dan Tomlinson says “our community deserves better” as local waiting list nears 100,000 reports David Floyd

Labour’s candidate for Chipping Barnet has hit out at the “crisis” facing the NHS as new data revealed almost 100,000 people on waiting lists for routine treatment at local hospitals.
Dan Tomlinson pointed to figures showing 97,508 patients were waiting to start routine hospital treatment at Barnet, Chase Farm and the Royal Free hospitals at the end of June.
He said the 4% increase on the figures for May, which is also 7.5% increase on June 2022 highlights a growing crisis in local healthcare.
Tomlinson said: “Barnet residents face the highest waiting time for treatments on record. Our hospitals are at breaking point and the crisis shows no sign of slowing down.
“After 13 years of Conservative governments, the NHS is under threat like never before. Long waits for care and deteriorating services should not be tolerated.”
He added: “Our community deserves better. The NHS should be there for when people need it and the creaking system needs urgent reforms to meet the needs of patients today. While the government is busy missing its targets, Labour is ready and waiting with a long-term plan for the NHS workforce and a programme of reform and investment to improve outcomes for patients in Barnet.”
Tomlinson was selected as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for the Chipping Barnet constituency in November last year.
Current MP Theresa Villiers had a majority of 1,212 at the 2019 general election although her position is likely to have been strengthened by boundary changes.
No news is bad news
Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.
The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.
If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.
Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.
Monthly direct debit
Annual direct debit


£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.
More information on supporting us monthly
More Information about donations