Family doctors have been the bedrock of the health service since it was founded. But under the Tories this key component of the system was undermined and underfunded. Some ill people now have to wait two weeks for an appointment. Getting one on the day is, for very many, a thing of the past.
Too many GPs are overworked and unable to provide the attention patients deserve. And this only causes problems down the line as people flock to A&E for treatment. Unlike the Tories, Labour understands the importance of GPs, which is why Health Secretary Wes Streeting yesterday announced a major increase in their funding.
This will be coupled with measures to cut the paperwork heaped on medics so they can spend more time with patients. It is, undoubtedly, just what the doctor ordered. If general practice can be nursed back to life it will be better for patients, the workforce and the rest of the NHS.
Keir Starmer’s decision to appointment a posse of Labour peers to the House of Lords is quite understandable. It will help redress the balance in a chamber packed with Tories. Many of his nominations are long-standing public servants deserving of the honour.
However, it would be far better if this government did away with this tawdry system completely and replaced the Lords with a slimmed-down elected second chamber. It makes a mockery of democracy that we still allow patronage rather than the electorate to decide who can shape and make our laws.
