NHS Providers chief executive, Sir Julian Hartley, backed the health secretary's pledges but warned bringing down waiting lists and improving care would require ‘more investment to tackle major workforce challenges, crumbling buildings, and out-of-date equipment'.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, welcomed Streeting's commitment to provide additional support to those NHS trusts in areas where there are the highest levels of sickness absence, quoting its recent analysis that reintegrating sick people to the workforce could add up to £177bn to the economy over five years.

Taylor also warned of the need for extra short-term investment in the NHS highlighting its deficit of at least £2.2bn.

‘The Government's 10-year strategy for health will be key to shifting the dial but unless NHS funding is restored to the long term average increases it needs, waiting lists and preventable illnesses will never come down to the desired levels,' Taylor said.

Nuffield Trust chief executive Thea Stein welcomed Streeting's acknowledgement of the need to fix social, adding the Government's ‘shifts' from hospital to community, analogue to digital and treatment to prevention was ‘unarguably the right focus'.

Stein also highlighted the bigger challenge would be making these shifts happen, however, highlighting how money has always flowed back to the acute sector, while community and public health budgets have been slashed. 

Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of The King's Fund, concrete plans to prevent ill health, intervene early and support people to manage their health in their homes and communities would ‘require a significant shift in resources and political focus towards primary and community services', adding fixing social care would fundamental reform.