Editorial: There is still work to do to fix the NHS

AThis is the 14th round Industrial action by doctors In their current pay dispute, just in time for the Christmas truce, a version of John Lennon’s famous words come to mind: “Another strike’s over, and what have you done?” To the Health Secretary, Wes StreetingThis is a strange question. he can definitely point out More funding for the NHSWhat is concrete is that the voters who elected him to “fix the NHS” will benefit from it. he has supervised a reduction in waiting listHowever, some say the achievement has been overstated. also the figure of 5 million extra appointments in the NHS Has not been seriously challenged. Yet the strikes drag on, and confidence in the NHS and Labour’s ability to reform it diminishes.

The survey shows that public satisfaction has not yet begun to improve significantly, but the state of the NHS has fallen sharply down the list of their biggest concerns – reflecting some confidence that Mr Streeting will actually fix what he calls a “broken” NHS. So far, winter “flunamia“The NHS has not been pushed to collapse, nor has the latest strike by resident, former junior, doctors caused it to collapse. However, it may be a matter of luck and the ability of NHS trusts to manage their workloads more efficiently.

Politically, Mr Streeting can end the year with the satisfaction of being one of the few members of the 2024 Cabinet to avoid scandal, retain his dignity and improve his reputation. He even survived an ill-advised “drive-by” attack carried out by unnamed individuals associated with the Prime Minister’s team, responded to a badly-aimed shooting, and became more Prime Ministerial than the Prime Minister himself. In an interview at the end of the year, he again played down his ambitions, saying “I wonder why anyone would want to be prime minister”. It seems a disjointed response, but he will understand better than most that if the post ever becomes vacant, his own performance as Health Secretary will be central to his chances of getting the top job. Without doubt, Mr Streeting is a better communicator than Sir Keir Starmer, more quick-witted and persuasive. But he still needs to show he can “do” as well as talk, and that means ending strikes in the NHS.

Leadership is revealed when they look back British Medical Association (BMA)Which is increasingly behaving less like a civilized professional body and more like an industrial trade union from the dark ages of labor relations, may feel more satisfied. They can claim to have secured a safe position since the election of the Labor government last year 28.9 percent increase For its members. In fact, this permission was granted by incoming Chancellor Rachel Reeves to prevent continued disruption to hospitals. However, no such assurances were given to NHS management or the Department of Health and Social Care, and the current demand to restore pay to 2008 levels involves a further 26 per cent increase in earnings. Resident doctors seem as willing as ever to make concessions, such as higher-paid specializations and better opportunities for progression into consultancy, and still ask for more money.

So it is that Mr Streeting finds himself in more or less the same desperate situation as his Tory predecessors, steve barclay And Victoria AtkinsThose whom he used to torment so much by saying that they should just “go around the table“With these dedicated professionals, and keep negotiating and negotiating until they settle the strikes. Now it’s their turn to declare themselves”Disappointed“About the disgusting actions of the BMA, and the doctors for their “irresponsible” behavior and their “Despicable attempt to ruin Christmas,

However, there is a difference. The Conservatives never claimed to be “the party of the NHS” and, in any case, voters did not really expect them to put it at the top of their priorities in government. On the contrary, they expect the same from Labour.

Can Mr. Streeting end the strike? He may get more success in 2026. Public sentiment may turn away from resident doctors, and support for further strike action within the profession may diminish. He is winning arguments. But their scope for being more generous on pay is limited by the state of public finances, which remain vulnerable to economic shocks. Meanwhile, the economy is struggling, and the public is growing impatient with progress on immigration and welfare reform. The ratings of the Prime Minister and the government are at a record low.Mr Streeting has the opportunity to show what a difference a Labor government can make to the well-being of the nation, and thus provide at least part of the “story” that the Government have been very bad at writing, Whether he is thinking about his next role in government or not, he has not yet completed his current job,