Major NHS reforms will ‘take a decade’, Keir Starmer warns September 12, 2024 A series of major reforms to the NHS will “take a decade” and won’t be “universally popular”, Sir Keir Starmer has warned in a speech about the future of the UK’s healthcare system. The Prime Minister pledged that his Labour government “will always make the investment in our NHS that is needed… even in difficult [...]
Spire Healthcare: High demand for private healthcare drives double-digit growth September 12, 2024 Spire Healthcare has reported a jump in revenue as the healthcare provider once again benefited from a high-performing private sector and a surge in medical insurance amongst working-age people. In its half-year results today, the FTSE 250-listed company, which is also the UK’s second-largest private healthcare group, said revenue was up 12.7 per cent to [...]
Reform NHS to get Brits back at work and driving growth, Starmer to say September 12, 2024 Reforming the National Health Service (NHS) will help get the British public “back to health and work” as well as “driving economic growth”, Keir Starmer will say.
The winter fuel cut is Starmer’s first peek into the Too Difficult Box. Now give him courage! September 11, 2024 Means-testing winter fuel payments show Starmer is willing to peek into the Too Difficult Box, but he must resist to urge to slam it shut again, writes James Price
Labour must address long-term sickness to get the economy growing September 10, 2024 Solving the problem of the UK's long-term sickness crisis could radically boost GDP and tax revenues. It should be a top priority for Labour, Chris Dorrell writes
Former Labour health minister warns PFI feuds threaten to disrupt hospitals September 9, 2024 A new report warns of public-private disputes in recent years, which have emerged alongside growing pressure on public finances.
Playing nice with trade unions won’t fix public services September 5, 2024 With trade unions promising further strike action despite generous pay settlements, Labour have found themselves in a bind of their own making, say Matthew Lesh Throughout the election campaign, Keir Starmer repeatedly pledged to end strikes by engaging in constructive dialogue with the unions. This always sounded like a pretty hollow promise. How could simply talking to [...]
Spending without productivity improvements won’t lead to better public services September 4, 2024 Restoring the differentials in public and private sector pay to those which prevailed in 2010 without quid pro quo increases in productivity is simply stirring up trouble for the future, says Paul Ormerod The decision by the government to stuff money into the bank accounts of the train drivers and junior doctors has been widely [...]
Admissions to private hospitals hit record amid NHS crisis September 3, 2024 The number of admissions to private hospitals reached a record high in the first quarter of 2024 as the NHS crisis has pushed more Brits away from the service. There were 238,000 admissions to private hospitals in the first quarter, up six per cent on 2023 and the highest number on record, according to data [...]
Are young people losing faith in the NHS? September 2, 2024 When it comes to private healthcare, young people are revealing a welcome preference for choice One of the most revealing moments in Labour’s policy-lite election campaign was when Keir Starmer insisted he would never use private healthcare for himself or a family member. For the Labour leader, the NHS is a matter of identity upon [...]