Local MP presses Health Secretary for urgent investment in the NHS
St Ives Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George told the House of Commons today (12th September) that the previous Conservative Government left the NHS and care services “with the worst crisis in their history”.
His comments came in a debate on the Darzi report into the state of the NHS. Lord Darzi, an eminent cancer surgeon, said in his report: “Although I have worked in the NHS for more than 30 years, I have been shocked by what I have found”.
Among the issues described in the report are surging waiting lists, 50 years of progress on cardiovascular disease going into reverse, and children sicker than they were a decade ago.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting condemned “a decade of underinvestment” in the NHS uncovered in the damning report. He said he would be “delighted” to meet the Liberal Democrats in view of “our shared areas of emphasis: the link between health and wealth, the importance of prevention and the importance of social care”.
Andrew told the House he welcomed the report and asked the Health Secretary: “When he meets the Liberal Democrats, will he review our costed plan to raise the investment necessary to address the issues highlighted in the report and to strengthen workforce planning in order to deliver services?”
Mr Streeting said it would not be possible to reverse more than a decade of underinvestment in a single Budget or spending review.
After the debate, Andrew said: “The Darzi report is a magnificent description of just how badly the Conservatives managed our NHS and Care services – the worst period in the 77-year history of the NHS. But it’s less clear on how we put right this mess.
The Health Secretary told the House today the primary cause was “a decade of underinvestment”. But he didn’t say where he will find the money to reinvest.
“He agreed to meet the Liberal Democrat’s and acknowledged our constructive approach. I pressed him on the need for investment and for concerted workforce planning – both matters largely ignored by the Conservatives.”