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Is the NHS really “broken” Much of the recent messaging from the government has centred around our NHS and the state it’s been left in by previous Conservative governments.
In a speech from Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the rhetoric was intensely focused on “saving our NHS” and accepting how bad things have become. “From today, the policy of this department is that the NHS is broken” – a clear sign of intent that this Labour government seeks change and won’t hesitate to implement it. Keir Starmer has continued the messaging in public interviews.
Criticism has come Streeting’s and Labour’s way following the claims, but they’re clear that there’s no backing down. Some senior officials in the NHS believe the rhetoric has gone too far, potentially impacting morale and putting people off patients seeking help.
There’s no denying the amazing work done by the NHS and all its members. But are things as bad as the government says they are?
What does the NHS being “broken” actually mean?
It’s not quite as black and white as the terminology suggests. No one area can be fixed or repaired to make all the difference. Instead, it’s a series of metrics, standards and pressures across the NHS that drives this thinking.
Factors such as A&E wait times, treatment waiting lists and staff shortages all influence public health and key healthcare metrics that the NHS is evaluated on. A sizeable backlog is one of the most significant issues – which is largely a lasting consequence of the pandemic.
Different services have their own pain points and challenges. In our region, NHS dentistry across the West Midlands is said to be in crisis. Maternity care across the country has recently been coming under scrutiny for sub-standard services.
The bottom line is that there is growing pressure on a workforce and resources that are more stretched than ever before. The risks of medical negligence and poor patient outcomes become much greater in systems like this. Undoubtedly, if things carry on as they are, there will come a time when the NHS goes beyond disrepair.
What can be done?
Government wording is strong, but their response will ultimately have to match it. Reform is certainly needed. However, implementing this across a national service is far from plain sailing. It will undoubtedly take years and the clock is already ticking for this new leadership group.
More funding, extra capacity to cut waiting lists, different approaches to managing care systems – these are all things they’re likely to try. Let’s see how things look in the next few years.
