Thumbs up for Streeting

Where did I say that?

I’m a farage supporter. Did you perhaps have anything useful to add to the conversation beyond sniping?

Actually, they did. Which is why the numbers started reducing under the last Tory government. But this government have really taken the idea and run with it. Here’s an excellent explanation of the situation of how the data is being used, for anyone who is actually interested in facts.

The bottom line is, does a fall in the waiting list = more people being treated and more appointments being created?

And the answer is, apparently, no one independent can tell from the available data - and that seems to be just how government like it…

https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/why-is-the-planned-care-waiting-list-coming-down-and-what-does-the-data-really-tell-us

The revival of PFI under this government, PPP (just PFI 2.0), seems to have passed you by then? And here’s a link as I’m sure you’d love one…God only knows how’s much debt it will land the NHS in…

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/nov/21/labour-mps-urge-reeves-to-drop-private-finance-plans-for-nhs-buildings-pfi

Another farage supporter I see!

Well you’re not covering yourself in glory calling people who you don’t know thick just because they disagree with your emotive sweeping statements

The ICB situation is difficult. The concept is 100% spot on but they grew and grew and grew and there is so much duplication. And, a lot of the intended aims are not being fulfilled (better collaboration with social care & getting rid of bed blockers being the obvious one) I hope that Labour rightsizes the ICBs and the rest of the NHS or just revolutionise the whole system. We're spending far too much money, often in the wrong places, and definitely for limited return. It's a bit worrying that they're obliterating NHSE and the ICBs. We surely need one or the other.

All of that said, it is horrific for the people involved who are losing jobs or seeing projects they've worked on for 4 years been stopped completely out of the blue.

But it still baffles me that the media are not going to town on Labour for the cuts. It's easy pickings for the tabloids but yet the public seem totally unaware.

You are rather disparaging about the vast majority of the country. Yougov polls say 81% wouldn’t vote Labour tomorrow.

Out of interest, why shouldn’t Mumsnet users criticise a terrible government?

Fucking hell, that’s awful 😱

That’s not quality improvement, that’s paperwork for the sake of it

Apart from individual promotion, were there any tangible outcomes to any of this?

Was there any engagement before the hub work took off?

I’m so sorry to pick on you to ask but this is my field and I’m flabbergasted 😱

I think you have jumped forward several steps though. Farage seems to be supporting an insurance based system free at the point of use - probably similar to the Australian model (which I understand works quite well).

The NHS already buys in various services from private companies so I assume they’ve already got checks and balances to prevent profiteering.

Many on the left are particularly critical of people who opt out of using public services like healthcare and education but if more people who can afford it were not stigmatised and derided for their willingness to pay more for their healthcare while still paying the taxes that support the NHS (likewise with schools - the VAT grab has massively backfired as students whose parents were paying extra for private education are now back in the state system needing resources) surely that frees up capacity for those who can’t afford it.

The NHS is a vast organisation employing 1.5 million people and spending £204 billion per year in England alone. We know there are eye watering inefficiencies and waste in the NHS, nearly half a billion on unrecovered cost from healthcare tourism every year, millions wasted on restructures/reorgs that make no difference in service delivery and the millions of pounds wasted on defending indefensible lawsuits like Sandie Peggie and the Darlington nurses. Not to mention the costs of suspending good staff on full pay for offences like saying ‘Mr’ in reference to a male patient (convicted rapist) and the future damages paid to unknown numbers of young people medically harmed by giving them puberty blockers, surgery and hormones. The standard compensation for their medical injuries is millions per patient.

There are many amazing frontline staff in the NHS (I have been fortunate enough to receive exemplary treatment over the last few years) but there are too many managers pushing political ideologies or who simply don’t care about waste as it’s not their money.

The definition of madness is going the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different outcome. Recent governments have been doing this - just tinkering around edges. I think the NHS is a great service overall but I think we shouldn’t be afraid of standing back and looking at it objectively to see if change could improve things rather than having that prevented by accusations of ‘selling it off for their mates’.

I think the improvements are patchy.

I’ve been disappointed in Starmer since he became leader of the Labour Party and I still am.

I am disabled and I feel afraid for what’s coming.

I was put on a waiting list in March. I will be seen in about 3/4 years. And that’s just for the initial appointment. I can’t go private. Or I would. Before anyone says anything.

I think he’s a capable guy, intelligent and practical - my son knows a lot of people back office in parliament and they all say he’s a hard working ‘doer’ . Yes he’s somewhat slick in maybe the way Blair was but I will take that any day of the week over a Lee Anderson type or a rather odd opportunistic fantasist like Polanski - who I think a bit like Anderson has been in most party’s and changed policies and views till he found a nice niche with a vacancy and ‘got on’ -

You are half right - the welfare state overall is out of control (not just the position of pensioners). Even those in work need to earn a surprising amount (£40k - £50k per year) before they become net tax contributors to the state… that is because our welfare provision (and areas like the nhs) are increasingly unaffordable.

Bloody hell what an arrogant statement to make.

They’re unpopular with the media…especially daily nazi type red tops…thick stupid people read these rags & are very easily influenced. As for MN users who berate the Labour Party…I just despair!
For context I didn’t vote labour at the last election!

I have used the NHS more in the last 18 months than in the previous 30 years and my experience has been excellent. I do think it's a bit of a postcode lottery but personally I am very grateful for an NHS that Reform would like to strip down and sell off to the highest bidder.

Although they can’t always get an ambulance within 5 hours for a category 2, I understand!

For information , 5 July 2024 was not just over a year ago.

@Daygloboo
Those thinking of voting for parties that want to move to an insurance based system must be crazy

Many major Western countries have insurance-based systems, including systems that rank extremely highly. France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, etc.

The two lowest-performing systems per many rankings are UK and US. Both are places that treat re-thinking their systems as sacrilege. No coincidence I think.

Because the public only cares about frontline services as demonstrated by this thread (OP is impressed by a headline). CSUs are being closed for no reason whatsoever that I can see, even the unions don't seem to care. If they were doing what they're doing to csu's and ICBs to frontline services there would be uproar

Let me help you out. Their policies are unpopular, so they back down. Starmer is viewed as weak and lacking leadership skills. There’s been little economic growth and the cost of living is awful. Look how expensive food is now. They’ve not done anything to control our borders and protect innocent, vulnerable people from drowning. The farmers hate Labour over the inheritance tax issue. Labour made promises to the WASPI women and have broken those promises. Then there’s tax and NI rises and the difficulties small businesses face. We’ve seen a rise in stamp duty, which I particularly dislike. Why should ordinary hardworking families be taxed because they need to move house?

Finally, the government in power is always unpopular.

Can only speak as I find.

DH was sent a letter to make an online appointment after being forgotten about. For 2 years. This was chased up by GP. But despite several attempts he was blocked because there are none available in numerous areas. The emphasis being put on the patient to ultimately fail.

I waited 16 months for my colorectal appointment. I saw the specialist who felt I needed a serious op. I initially declined but he wanted to keep me on his list. In his words, he believed if I started with a new referral he would be retired and, in my words, I would be dead.

No doubt I will be told I am negative or anti Streeting. But I can only give my own experience. There is worse, but scaremongering is unhelpful. Hope is all.