Creative thinking on health issue is vital

TODAY’S report from Public Health Wales describes the worrying challenges that face Wales in the medium to long term.

In doing so, it confirms the conclusions of other reports produced from slightly different perspectives.

While it is undoubtedly good that people are living longer, the cost of caring for them as they become increasingly infirm will fall on an NHS that will demand an ever-increasing proportion of the Welsh Government’s budget.

A solution clearly needs to be found, or other public spending will face huge cuts.

Are our politicians capable of thinking beyond the next electoral cycle, and of making decisions that may damage their popularity in the short term?

There is little evidence around to suggest that will happen.

Politicians need to offer a positive vision to voters if they want to be elected. Prophets of doom are rarely successful at the ballot box.

With that knowledge, political parties tend to downplay the kind of conclusions set out in the Public Health Wales report when they are drafting their manifestos for the next election.

It’s common for politicians to compartmentalise their approach: many will nod sagely and pay lip service to acknowledging the challenges that face Wales at the time such a report is released.

But their short-term persona takes over when they dream up eye-catching offers for voters at the next election.

Moving on from such a mindset will not be easy. Self-preservation is a powerful instinct, and politicians will be sorely tempted not to risk their survival by making their electorate feel uncomfortable.

What’s required is surely a combination of honesty and determination. Honesty to face up to the unavoidable facts of demographic change and economic challenge. And determination to ensure that revenue is raised more fairly and that resources are allocated more equally.

When tough decisions have to be taken, it is unacceptable to perpetuate social inequality that condemns many to live below the poverty line.

Politicians, then, have a duty not simply to impose spending cuts so that healthcare in the future can be afforded.

They need to start from the premise that everyone has a right to live with dignity.

To get through the challenges, we need more creativity from our leaders than in recent years they have been used to providing.