stouravonmagazine.co.uk
10 New Stour & Avon, March 10, 2023
Political round-up
Public faith in NHS lowest in 20 years It was a privilege to take part in the four-hour debate on the hot topic of the future of the NHS. The good news is that the Health Minister has agreed to meet me to discuss some of the points I made. Many of these were prompted by suggestions from constituents. An excellent one was from a senior nurse who believes it was a mistake in 2009 to make nursing a fully graduate profession. The result is that no one can become a nurse unless they have a degree. Even a nursing apprenticeship has to be linked to a degree. Yet the experience of patients is that often the most caring nurses they meet are nongraduates who entered nursing as a vocation before the degree requirement was set. The minister gave encouragement that a change
Christchurch & East Dorset CHRIS CHOPE MP of policy may be in the offing when he said: ‘We are very interested in driving forward apprenticeship and non-degree routes into healthcare’. The minister’s response to some of my other suggestions was less forthcoming. He did not comment on the concern that many of the doctors and nurses being
trained at taxpayers’ expense leave the NHS as soon as they qualify. In the United States, those who leave the profession in such circumstances, are expected to pay back some or all of the cost of their training. The minister was also rather vague about NHS dentistry. He did not respond directly to my point that, in Christchurch, there are dentists who would like to take on more NHS patients but are prevented by rules which require them not to exceed 110% of their quota. Otherwise they are subject to financial penalties. The minister gave no indication as to whether the reform of the dentistry contract which increases the number of ‘unit of dental activity bands’ will also allow dentists to increase their activity to meet demand. NHS productivity is declining. Yet the Government refuses
to publish the internal report about this on the grounds that revealing such information ‘could prejudice the conduct of public affairs’. On enquiring as to how such prejudice could arise, the response given to me was: ‘To share this information would inhibit the open, free and frank discussions that are being had on these internal policies’. Yet it is those internal policies which have resulted in the public’s faith in the NHS sinking to its lowest level in 20 years. Fifty-three per cent of adults believe that the National Health Service ‘often wastes money’. Fewer than one in 10 believe that ministers are pursuing the right policies. For these reasons I shall continue to pressurise ministers to face up to the realities and embrace ideas for radical reform.
Our five missions for a better Britain
It’s great to see Keir Starmer’s five missions for a better Britain. They set out not just what Labour’s priorities in government would be, but our whole approach to governing. Essentially Starmer wants to end short-term sticking-plaster politics. A mission-driven government works relentlessly towards long-term national goals that are measurable. Let’s look at what that means. Labour’s first mission is to secure the highest sustained growth in the G7. We don’t just aim for a return for growth. Our mission is good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off. Secondly, to make Britain a clean energy superpower to create jobs, cut bills and boost energy security with zerocarbon electricity by 2030. I’m particularly keen to find out
more about how this impacts rural Dorset. Will we see more onshore wind and solar farms? Would you want to see that if it meant lower bills and emissions? Thirdly, we don’t just aim to get waiting lists down. Our mission is to build an NHS fit for the future by reforming health and care services to speed up treatment, harnessing life sciences and technology to reduce preventable illness, and cutting health inequalities. Fourthly, as you’d expect the former chief prosecutor will be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime. His mission is to make Britain’s streets safe by reforming the police and justice system, tackle violence against women, and stopping criminals getting away without punishment. Finally, because we are the Labour party after all, our mission is to break down the barriers to opportunity at
Dorset Labour GREG WILLIAMS every stage, for every child, by reforming the childcare and education systems, raising standards everywhere, and preparing young people for work and life. What’s the most important of these? Our first mission is to grow the economy and all the other missions contribute to that bold aim. Currently growth
is being hampered by low business investment, our failure to get ahead of the game on green jobs, the fact that more than seven million people are waiting for an NHS operation, the hoarding of power in Westminster and the knowledge that potential and life chances are not evenly spread. Together these problems reinforce each other. The current model of governing, geared towards delivering shortterm results, reacting to the dayto-day political context, simply isn’t going to meet the scale of the challenge Britain faces. Labour will bring a fresh, collaborative approach to government: Business working with unions; the private sector working with the public sector; and partnership between national and local government. Our missions add up to powerful modernisation of the economy, public services and government to prepare Britain for the future.