Cameron warned of resistance to plan for NHS

Tories seize political initiative

DAVID CAMERON was told he will face resistance from nurses if his proposals for a truly sevenday NHS force them to make major changes to their working patterns yesterday.

The Royal College of Nursing reacted with caution to the Prime Minister’s pledge in his first major speech since returning to Downing Street.

Mr Cameron also faced warnings that his promise of an additional £8bn for the health service was unlikely to be enough.

Chief executive Peter Carter warned nurses would resist any changes to payments they receive for working outside office hours.

He said: “The membership is quite clear: unsocial hours, weekend working, Christmas Day and bank holidays – they get a very modest higher level of remuneration. Any attack on that

Any attack on that and I do fear it would result in industrial action Royal College of Nursing chief executive Peter Carter

and I do fear it would result in industrial action.”

British Medical Association council chairman Dr Mark Porter accused Mr Cameron’s speech of being “empty headlinegrabbing”.

“Crucially, the £8bn promised by the Prime Minister is the bare minimum needed for the NHS to simply stand still and will not pay for extra services.

“The real question for the Government is how they plan to deliver additional care when the NHS is facing a funding gap of £30bn and there is a chronic shortage of GPs and hospital doctors, especially in acute and emergency medicine, where access to 24-hour care is vital.

“Without the answer to these questions this announcement is empty headline-grabbing and shows that, even after polling day, politicians are still avoiding the difficult questions and continuing to play games with the NHS.”

THE CONTRAST could not be greater. While Labour implodes over its future leadership and influence of union barons like Len McCluskey, the Prime Minister continues to set the agenda on those policies that were previously the exclusive preserve of the political left.

First, there was a symbolic speech that committed his Government to unlocking the economic potential of cities across the North. Then David Cameron spoke of a desire for a new generation of headteachers to help boost social mobility amongst the young. And now he has reiterated his commitment to a seven-daya-week NHS.

The Conservative leader’s ambition should not be faulted. There is a great disparity between hospital care on weekdays – and that afforded to patients at weekends – which needs addressing. And waiting times for outpatients will only be kept checked if scanners and other diagnostic equipment can be used at all times.

However Mr Cameron’s determination did mask three flaws that the Government still needs to remedy. First, the cost. This plan is in addition to the extra £8bn that the Tories have pledged to find in order to implement the reforms set out by NHS chief executive Simon Stevens. Where is the money coming from?

Second, the staff. The demonisation of the healthcare profession by successive governments means there is not a ready-made pool of doctors and nurses ready to step into the breach. Unless more medical staff are recruited from overseas, or there is a greater reliance on “locums”, staff shortages will be here to stay.

Finally, GP cover. If the NHS is to function effectively, more health centres need to extend their opening hours in order to ease the pressure on A&E units. However one-third of GPs are due to retire in the next five years, a sad state of affairs which will play into the hands of Mr Cameron’s embattled opponents unless he confronts concerns about cost and staffing at the earliest opportunity.