The Standard

A London doctor has described the NHS as ‘hitting rock bottom’, as the number of people in England on NHS waiting lists for pre-planned care hit a record 6.1 million this year.Before coronavirus hit the UK, the number of people waiting for planned treatment was already at 4.2 million.Press Association figures show a patient in England has waited almost six years for hospital care and dozens have waited for more than three years.In response, the NHS has planned new measures to try and tackle the backlog, including sending people home the same day they receive treatments like hip replacement surgery, and setting up mobile scanners in supermarket car parks.Dr Sonia Adesara works as a GP in the capital, and explains how patients are struggling with the long waiting times, how the backlog is affecting doctors, and why a staffing crisis in the NHS needs to be addressed.In this episode:Dr Adesara's reaction to the 6.1million waiting list record (1.13)How patients are coping with the long waiting times (2.14)What impact the backlog is having on doctors and GPs (3.28)Will the NHS's new measures be effective? (4.30)Will the government spend money wisely to help the NHS? (6.04)Are you confident action will be taken to better support the NHS? (7.03)How the NHS is struggling in other areas (7.45)Follow us on Twitter for more news @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK government’s plans to send refugees to Rwanda have been described as a ‘human rights calamity’ by Amnesty International.On Thursday Boris Johnson set out the plan to send some of the migrants who cross the channel into the UK, more than 4,000 miles away to the African continent.It’s been met with a huge backlash from opposition MPs, public figures, and human rights organisations.Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty International UK’s Refugee and Migrant Rights Director shares his reaction to the plan, explains why it won’t solve the UK’s immigration problems, and discusses his hopes that the government will be pressured into a u-turn.In this episode:Steve’s reaction to the Rwanda migration plans (1.14)What happened to similar schemes by Australia and Isreal (2.13)How the plan impacts human rights laws (3.45)Is Rwanda as safe as Boris Johnson claims? (5.05)What other options could the government take? (6.06)Could the government be forced into a U-turn? (7.06)Are there concerns that more countries could opt for similar schemes? (8.10)Follow us on Twitter for all the latest news @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canary Wharf is set to be transformed into a new attractive destination, with new waterways for paddle boarding, floating pontoons, public parks and a huge boost to its greenery.They’re the plans put together by the Eden Project and the Canary Wharf Group, to improve the area’s offering to locals and visitors, but also increase the biodiversity of the area.The Eden Project hopes to demonstrate how a dense urban environment can “live and work in harmony with nature”.We spoke with Chief Executive of Eden Project International David Harland about their plans, how they could benefit the local environment and economy, and whether their vision represents the future for our cities.In this episode:The 'vision' for Canary Wharf (0.52)How they plan to boost biodiversity (1.42)The Eden Project's plans to bring nature back to the city (2.37)The benefits of wild flowers (3.33)How the project could help improve air quality (4.43)Plans to bring water sports to the area (5.42)The benefits of the Eden Project's own London base (6.51)Could they make more of these green areas in London? (7.29)Follow us on Twitter for the latest news, interviews and features @EveningStandard  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Downing Street has confirmed Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak will be fined for breaking Covid restrictions.No10 said the Prime Minister and Chancellor were among those set to be handed fixed penalty notices over the partygate scandal.It has led to fresh calls for the Prime Minister to resign, including from opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer.The Evening Standard’s Political Editor Nicholas Cecil discusses what the fines mean for Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, whether he’s at risk of losing his role as prime minister, and what impact these fines may have on the Conservative party.Follow us on Twitter for more news @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new poll by the National Education Union has found almost half of teachers in England plan to quit their job in the next five years.A fifth of the 1,788 teachers surveyed said they would leave within two years.The NEU said heavy workload was a ‘significant factor’ in their decision to leave, as well as concerns about the level of trust in teachers from the public and Government, pay, and accountability.It’s as the NEU is today calling for Ofsted to be replaced - claiming it’s an “unfair and unreliable inspectorate” which has driven up unnecessary workload and stress for teachers.In response to the poll, a Department for Education spokesperson said teaching “remains an attractive and fulfilling profession”, and the number of teachers in our schools remains high. We spoke with London teacher Kiri Tunks about the poll, what life is like as a teacher, and what changes she wants to see for the education system.For all the latest news follow us on Twitter @EveningStandard  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is an Invitation to Meet Anna Chokina, CEO of Cellular Goods. They’re a cannabinoid wellness start-up, trying to make headway in an emerging market, where competition is already fierce and getting stronger all the time. They’re offering CBD and CBG products from health supplements to skin care, but how do you persuade customers to try something new?It’s a problem Anna’s had to overcome before in her many jobs for huge companies including Avon, PepsiCo and Procter and Gamble, but is it harder in a startup?In this show we talk about:The visit to an Alaskan pot shop where Anna discovered CBD productsThe CBD market and its difficulties, including reputational onesThe public’s rediscovery of science since the pandemicYou can listen to the full interview in our An Invitation To Meet series here.For more business news, interviews and analysis go to standard.co.uk/business Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dame Cressida Dick officially leaves her post as Met Commissioner this Sunday and the Evening Standard can exclusively reveal that in an explosive ‘letter to London’, she slams the city’s mayor, Sadiq Khan. Accusing him of damaging the entire justice system by the “politicisation of policing”.Our Crime Correspondent, Anthony France, who broke the story, discusses what we know about the complicated relationship between the outgoing Met chief and the Mayor of London, as well as what will be Dame Cressida’s legacy now she’s gone. Today we talk about:How we got here (0:40)What is this ‘letter to London’ (1:30)Does Dame Cressida have a point about the “politicisation of policing” (3:12)Dame Cressida’s legacy (6:46)For the latest news follow us on Twitter @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A piece of Earth’s history has just been found. Scientists have discovered a fossil of a perfectly preserved dinosaur leg that may have been ‘ripped off’ by the asteroid that sparked a mass extinction.It was unearthed at a site in Tanis, North Dakota, 3,000km away from the asteroid impact site in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s one of a number of impressive finds from the location. Professor Paul Barrett, dinosaur specialist from the Natural History Museum, explains the significance of this 66-million-year-old find.Today we talk about:The significance of the discovery (02:50)Other findings at this particular site (04: 09)The upcoming Sir David Attenborough BBC documentary on the Tanis site (05:34)For the latest news follow us on Twitter @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s another blow in the cost of living crisis. From today the National Insurance increase comes into effect. It means that workers, businesses and the self-employed will now pay an extra 1.25p in the pound. The Evening Standard’s Consumer Business Editor, Jonathan Prynn, explains what this all means for Londoners who are already feeling the pinch. Today we talk about:The changes coming in today (01:17)What it means for Londoners (03:10)Should we be preparing for any other upcoming price increases, taxes or other costs? (07:10)For the latest news follow us on Twitter @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No-fault divorce is being introduced in England and Wales tomorrow (Wednesday 6th April 2022). It’s the biggest divorce reform in 50 years and means that partners wishing to split no longer have to assign blame or wait anything from two to five years to start the legal process. We hear from Nigel Shepherd, the former chair of Resolution who led their campaign to bring in no-fault divorce. He’s also a highly experienced family lawyer. Today we talk about:What the previous rules were & the new process coming in (01:27)Why it’s taken so long to change the law (03:15)Why he led Resolution’s campaign for no-fault divorce (03:59)His response to critics (05:36)Will the new process coming in put added strain on the courts? (06:27)For the latest news follow us on Twitter @EveningStandard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.