The Guardian view on Labour and the NHS: there is no miracle cure for a struggling health system | Editorial

SWhen the peak to deputies last week, Dr. Beni Dash quoted the Guardian describing her as a The fanatic repair. She said that Dr. Dash was less enthusiastic than it was in mind, and it is better to listen. But the physician and administrative advisor, who was just appointed as head of NHS England, has not lost any of its design to make the health service better and more productive.

How this support will be the question that extends with millions of pounds. Next A 10 -year plan It is the Wes Streeting opportunity to convert the pledges of the statement in the Labor Party, and the consistent reconnaissance in NHS, into policies that can help its party win a second term.

But the circumstances that this should do is a great challenge. The United Kingdom has The aging of the population with increased diseasesAnd a healthy system, although it performs well compared to other countries, the weaknesses are rooted. Some of these are related to workforceWith a decrease in some areas and Lack of wages This makes more strikes.

Long -term lack of investment means technology and infrastructure is not the same. the Lack of social welfare provisionFailure by successive governments in this treatment, heavily adds pressure on GPS and hospitals. Since health has been transferred, most MR Streeting decisions only affect England directly, although many problems are the same – especially long waiting lists and population health issues, including obesity.

In wide phrases, Mr. Streeting has already identified his reforms. These include three transformations: from analog to digital, from hospitals to society, and from treatment to general protection and health. But evoking the vision of change is easier than providing it, or persuading the employees and the public to believe that it can succeed.

Technology is an easy thing, although many things may still be wrong. Mr. Streeting announced that the new GP contract will include More online reservationAnd the NHS application continues to start the update standards that have a clear meaning. Health technology companies are enthusiastic partners, although activists are right to indicate the risks of allowing them to access unique data groups from NHS.

The transfer of health care from hospitals to the settings in the neighborhood and society is a more difficult proposal. It is one thing to support this as a concept. But with great pressure hospitals from Waiting listsComfortable employees and investment lack, there is certainly a struggle over the extent of redirecting spending away from the sharp funds that are now absorbing The majority of health budgets (59 % of the total in England in 2022-23).

In an ideal world, new local services will be built in parallel with those that exist. This is known as “double running”, but it costs the money that no one expects to be coming. Hence, the high hopes placed on efficiency savings, including the recent announcement Discounts to NHS England itself.

Of course, clarity should be avoided around those who do what is desirable, and double roles among civilian employees. Implementation around the jurisdiction of integrated care panels need to get rid of them. But how to allocate resources, and whether NHS priorities will be redirected towards prevention, they are political decisions, in the end, the ministers will make. The change is likely to be gradually suddenly. The smaller words that Dr. Dash spoke with deputies when she said, “This is difficult.”

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