Shadow health secretary Streeting praises Israel medical advances on trip
MP says Israel is "10 years ahead of UK" thanks to organisations like Magen David Adom which could help improve NHS care in this country
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Labour’s Wes Streeting has praised Israel’s “remarkable advances in medical technology” and how they could be used to improve NHS care in this country.
The Shadow Secretary of State for Health said: “Depressingly, what is happening in Israel is well over a decade ahead of where we are in terms of the use of cameras and apps on phones to improve response times.
“They also make sure when patients arrive they have the right people on hand so they can be treated in the most effective ways possible.
“I’m hugely impressed. We will definitely want to be using these at home to build an even better healthcare system than the one we already have.”
Streeting is visiting Israel as a member of Labour Friends of Israel, which coincides with the BioMed Israel 2022 conference taking place in Tel Aviv.
The trip, the first visit by a shadow cabinet member since Keir Starmer was made leader, included a visit to Magen David Adom – Israel’s only National Blood and Medical Emergency Service – with a focus on the new National Blood Services Centre and National Dispatch Centre.
Ilford North MP Streeting will also view the services being offered by the Medical Aid For Palestinians on his visit.
He said: “I wanted to return to Israel to see the remarkable advances in medical technology developed here, and look at how the next Labour government can provide the NHS with the modern technology it needs to treat patients on time.”
Streeting added he was enthused at seeing the “incredible work” being done by both by Magen David Adom and Medical Aid For Palestinians.
Daniel Burger, chief executive of Magen David Adom UK, said: “We were delighted to welcome Wes Streeting MP to Magen David Adom today.
“Wes’ specific interest in medical technology is perfectly aligned with MDA’s highly sophisticated and constantly evolving software that MDA UK is helping MDA in Israel to showcase and sell around the world.
“It’s also wonderfully fitting and a true honour that the Shadow Health Secretary chose to visit MDA’s facilities and be the first Labour MP to do so.”
During the delegation’s busy schedule they were also set to visit the Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem.
They would also be meeting with Nitzan Horowitz, Israel’s Minister of Health and leader of Meretz and Merav Michaeli, Israel’s Minister of Transport and leader of the Israeli Labor Party.
Other engagements included a visit to Healthy.io, tech provider for the NHS and Boots pharmacy.
Streeting also visited Yad Vashem, taking party in a wreath-laying ceremony on behalf of the UK Labour Party.
LFI chair Steve McCabe MP, who led the delegation, said: “I am so pleased that LFI has been able to bring Wes to Israel to learn about Israel’s cutting-edge health tech sector.
“We have seen how Israeli innovation is revolutionising health care and learned how we can use this ground breaking tech to support our NHS.
“From Israeli pharmaceuticals supplying one in seven NHS prescription drugs to working together to tackle COVID, cooperation in health shows the benefit of a strong bilateral relationship between Israel and the UK.
“I know that Wes will come away from this delegation with a close insight into how Israeli tech can support our own healthcare system as we emerge from the pandemic.”
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