Real reform is vital to secure the NHS

PRIME Ministers today face the challenge of not appearing as the First Minister of England.

Theresa May’s long-planned announcement about new investment in the NHS will have been broadcast across the UK, but her Government is only in control of English health policy.

It will be up to the Welsh Government to decide how it uses the sum that emerges from the Barnett process. NHS managers and social care staff across Wales will hope it will come in their direction to address difficulties seen by many as a legacy of austerity.

Mrs May does not get to set health policy in Wales – but she does want to be seen by Welsh voters as a champion of the NHS in this nation.

Towards the end of her speech she said: “While it is up to the devolved administrations to spend the money as they see fit, I believe everyone in the UK should benefit from this extra funding for the NHS. So I urge the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales to use this money to improve the NHS – and to develop their own long-term plans for NHS Scotland and NHS Wales.”

Welsh Conservatives have jumped at the opportunity to campaign for Welsh investment, welcoming “plans to invest nearly £400m more a week in the NHS in real terms”. It wants to see “an annual £1.2bn NHS funding boost” in Wales.

As the country prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the NHS and salute Aneurin Bevan’s role in that battle, grassroots Tories will welcome the opportunity to portray themselves as the contemporary defenders of healthcare free at the point of need.

Welsh Health Secretary Vaughan Gething’s response to the announcement was cautious, stressing that he had yet to see details but that he would “make the best use of that money”.

Voters may also feel sceptical about talk of a “Brexit dividend” and wonder how their taxes may rise to increase investment. There is no doubt that people cherish the NHS but after years of wage stagnation they will want assurances that new cash will lead to real improvement in services.

Neither healthcare workers nor citizens long for more bouts of reorganisation but the service needs reform if it is to meet opportunities created by technological breakthroughs and challenges posed by an ageing population.

Cash is only part of the solution.