After 33 years in the NHS, 20 at strategic/regional level, I can’t see anything new in these proposals (Twelve key takeaways from Labour’s 10-year NHS plan, 3 July). My regional and national colleagues all recognise this as yet more political rhetoric causing disruption, and time-wasting by politicians trying to make a name for themselves. The reason this plan will fail, as have all the others, is the failure to address the determinants of ill health, and focusing on the consequences instead of preventing the causes.
Public health and prevention are in the “too difficult” box, compounded by politicians in thrall to ultra-processed food and drink lobbyists, and a culture in some families where worklessness is seen as acceptable. Social care is expensive and unsexy because it deals with messy things like chronic illness, ageing and dying. Technology will only help when basic systems work properly first. While these remain unaddressed, there is no chance of success.
