Tom Smith on the debate of the day

At 9 am this morning, BBC Radio 4 hosted a programme on the cost of the NHS and the involvement of the private sector. This involved Allyson Pollock (AP) and Paul Corrigan (PC) setting out their alternative cases and former Lib Dem health spokesman Evan Harris and businessman Sir Gerry Robinson responding. The idea of the show was for Harris and Robinson to listen to the arguments and then make up their minds (as if they didn’t have a view already). Kings Fund chief executive Niall Dickson was on hand as referee.

Tom Smith on IWantGreatCare.

Health Policy Today, 13th July 2008 - Local authorities to hold PCTs to account: the implications of Hazel Blear’s new White Paper Communities in control: real people, real power

Last Wednesday, on the 9th of July – Hazel Blears published a White Paper Communities in control: real people, real power. It didn’t make huge headlines and a very important implication for health seems not to have been noticed.

7 July 2008 - Tom Smith on today’s health policy debate.

It's that time of year when the BMA’s representatives come together for their annual conference. In his first speech as chairman, Dr Hamish Meldrum was keen to show the delegates where he stood in relation to the private sector and market forces in healthcare.

3 July 2008 - Tom Smith on clinical engagement

On the one hand, the Darzi review places great stress on clinical engagement; on the other health minister Ben Bradshaw seems determined to maintain political pressure on GPs. Every newspaper today reports his comments that in some places GPs have a “gentleman’s agreement” not to take on each other’s patients. If it were true, it would undermine choice in the NHS, making it difficult for patients to move practices.

Health Policy Today - 2 July 2008

by Andy Cowper

With apologies to Garrison Keillor, it has been a busy day in the health policy village.

Parlez-vous NHS?
The Guardian reported a potentially major development, in the form of the European Union’s draft legislation on a right to travel to any of the EU’s 27 member states for free treatment (www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/jul/02/euro.health).

Alan Johnson questioned over his commitment to locally led change

Tom Smith on today’s heath policy debate

Alan Johnson has had a busy day: one he has spent all year building up to, in many ways. He was on the Today programme at 8am and spent the afternoon in the House of Commons, taking part in a debate on the Next Steps Review and the new Constitution announced today. All day long he’s had to answer questions on the balance between local and central power.

Alan Johnson interview with Evan Davis on Radio 4’s Today Programme

Tom Smith on today’s health policy debate.

The most interesting report of the day comes from a local government thinktank. It believes that local authorities should play a much greater role in health.

Tom Smith on today’s health policy debate.
Today’s health policy coverage is very political and in advance of the NHS 60th anniversary both Labour and Conservative parties are squaring up. David Cameron today declared that Labour policy had failed. In an interview with the Daily Mirror Alan Johnson described criticisms as “absolute tosh”. Interestingly, the media seems unimpressed by this increasingly politicised debate.