As I write these words, a new Prime Minister is settling into Downing Street, a new Health and Social Care Secretary is taking posession of his Red Boxes and an old friend to all of us, the NHS, is celebrating its 76th birthday. Is it all going to come together beautifully?
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The NHS is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown of Labour’s achievements, and improving it, or occasionally ‘saving’ it, is usually the centrepiece to Labour’s electoral offer to the public. For Mr Streeting, an ambitious and articulate young politician, the job comes with some personal poignancy as well. Three years ago he was successfully treated for kidney cancer, and it’s clear he feels a huge debt of gratitude. ‘The NHS saved my life. Now I’m determined to save our NHS. That work starts today.’ he said, announcing his appointment.
But a slight air of trepidation hangs over the Government. Sir Keir Starmer’s achievement in transforming Labour from a dysfunctional activists’social club into an election winning machine in a mere four years is considerable, but there are vulnerabilities. And the workload faced by the new Government is daunting indeed. Just in health alone, waiting lists, pay settlements and staff shortages will have to be tackled imminently, with little slack anywhere in public finances.
‘A new dawn has broken, has it not,’ announced the last elected Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair back in 1997. But Mr Blair’s in-tray came with a booming economy. In 2024, times are much more straitened, and tough choices and innovation will be required. But both Sir Keir and Mr Streeting are arch pragmatists who don’t duck a challenge. Maybe things really can get better.