The prime minister will deliver a speech this morning after Lord Darzi’s damning report on the NHSIn an interview with LBC, Wes Streeting, the health secretary, said that, although Labour wants more focus on preventative health measures, it would not be bringing in new salt or sugar taxes. He explained:That wasn’t in our manifesto and the reason why we are reluctant to go down that sort of route is because there is a cost-of-living crisis at the moment and I think we have got to get the balance right.Crucially, on public health and prevention measures we have got to take people with us …We will review this report carefully but it appears that Labour have missed an opportunity to put together meaningful plans for reform.We Conservatives recognise that investment has to be married with reform. This is why we brought forward long-term plans for productivity, tech, Pharmacy First, virtual wards, attracting pharmaceutical research and training and retaining staff. We did this whilst boosting investment in the NHS in real terms every single year.The Health and Social Care Act of 2012 was a calamity without international precedent. It proved disastrous. By dissolving the NHS management line, it took a “scorched earth” approach to health reform, the effects of which are still felt to this day. It has taken more than 10 years to get back to a sensible structure. And management capability is still behind where it was in 2011.Some sanity has been restored by the 2022 Act which put integrated care systems on a statutory basis. This has the makings of a sensible management structure, consisting of a headquarters, seven regions and 42 integrated care boards (ICBs) whose strategy to tackle inequalities, and to improve population health, is set by an Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) that includes local government and the third sector alongside the NHS itself.The puzzlement of that is that I’m told – I wasn’t in parliament at the time – but I’m told that Lord Darzi supported those reforms at the time. Continue reading…
Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/sep/12/keir-starmer-nhs-darzi-report-labour-tories-uk-politics
Author : Andrew Sparrow
Publish date : 2024-09-12 08:55:02
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