BABLIN MOLIK COLUMNIST Commission would take NHS Wales out of party politics
AS we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the NHS, it’s important to reflect on its future as well as its past.
The founding principle of the NHS that everyone should have access to quality healthcare free at the point of use remains as fiercely protected today as it was 70 years ago.
However for all its virtues, NHS Wales faces some immense challenges that require the full expertise and commitment of health professionals and politicians to solve.
Wales has changed since the creation of the NHS. Then most patients were treated for dangerous but easily curable diseases and infections. The expectation was that curing these patients would save government money by allowing people to live longer, healthier and more productive lives.
In some ways, the NHS has been a little too effective. The people of Wales live longer, but develop multiple chronic conditions that require greater care and attention.
Given health takes up almost 50% of the Welsh Government’s budget and austerity has hit other areas hard, further resources cannot easily be found.
The pressure placed on NHS Wales staff creates its own staffing challenges. Many specialties including general practice, nursing, psychiatry and radiology face substantial shortages.
Many of these shortages are only expected to get worse due to the ageing workforce, numbers expected to retire early or reduce their hours and the time taken to train new staff. All parties to an extent lay claim to the NHS, but one of great strengths of the NHS is that it belongs to every party and everyone.
But far too often those of us in political parties cross the line. Instead of celebrating the NHS we exploit it for party political gain, to the detriment of staff and patients alike.
Using the NHS as a political football has frequently led to the unedifying spectacle of party leaders at Prime Minister’s Questions using the failures of other health services within the UK to deflect from failures within their own. This habit reached a nadir in 2014 when David Cameron described Offa’s Dyke as the “line between life and death”.
The NHS is far too important to be exploited in this way and the people of Wales deserve greater maturity from their politicians in the way we approach such a vital and cherished institution.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats would establish an all-party and non-party commission to take the major decisions and take NHS Wales out of party politics.
This commission would include representatives from every major political party and would be led by experts.
Ultimately, who do you trust more to make decisions about your health? Your GP and local nurses or your Ccouncillors and Assembly Members? Unfortunately, I think I know the answer.