Sir Rod Stewart calls in to Sky News to donate for medical scans after hearing NHS crisis stories and says ‘change the bloody government’
Sir Rod Stewart has called in to a live Sky News phone-in offering to donate money for medical scans after hearing stories from people about treatment ordeals on the NHS.
The singer said it was “ridiculous” that people were having to wait long periods to get essential scans and treatment.
The 78-year-old told Sky News: “I personally have been a Tory for a long time but I think this government should stand down now and give the Labour Party a go, this is heartbreaking.
“In all my years in this country I’ve never seen it so bad… change the bloody government.”
Sir Rod said he would like to donate enough money to pay for “10 or 20 scans” after recounting his experience of an “empty” private scanning clinic where he went for an annual check-up.
“There are people dying because they cannot get scans,” Sir Rod said.
“I don’t need the publicity, I just want to do some good things and this I think is a good thing. If other people follow me I would love that.”
He also came out in support of nurses taking strike action over pay, saying the NHS needs to be “rebuilt with billions and billions” to overcome the crisis. “I’m on your side,” he said.
In 2019 the singer revealed he had secretly been fighting prostate cancer for three years but was “in the clear now, simply because I caught it early”.
Rod Stewart performs at the Raise the Roof fundraiser for Prostate Cancer UK in June
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Victoria, who told how her father died earlier this month after picking up COVID and pneumonia in hospital, was among a string of callers who contacted the Sky News phone-in about the scale of the NHS crisis. Her father had been waiting five months to be discharged.
Another woman who called in said she had been on a waiting list for an appointment for three years.
“I’m losing the will to live,” she told Sky News’ Sarah-Jane Mee, adding: “I don’t know what to do, and what worries me is that the situation for me and others could get worse.”
Not all callers had negative experiences. One person rang in to say she had been happy with her treatment when she needed major surgery – but she did blame the government for failing to fund the health service, saying “the nurses worked their guts out”.
Carole, from Sheffield, also shared a positive story about how her father fell on ice last week and broke his leg. The 90-year-old was picked up by an ambulance and treated in five-and-a-half hours.
“All of his treatment has been absolutely brilliant, it has all gone really swimmingly and all the nurses have been fabulous,” she added.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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