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** 19 September 2024
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** UK
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** Streeting says he will ‘take on’ left and right for health reform (#1)
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** Hartlepool family share their story of loss for stop-smoking TV advert (#2)
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** Lib Dems unveil new top team after election success (#3)
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** UK
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** Streeting says he will ‘take on’ left and right for health reform

The Health Secretary has vowed to take on the left and the right to reform the health of the nation, warning that the nation’s economic prosperity is at risk without change.

But Wes Streeting insisted that he would make changes “with people” and not “to people” when asked about nanny state concerns, saying he is not the “fun police”.

He said that sticking plasters “won’t cut it” and said the Government was going to make “big changes”.

Speaking at an event for the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), Mr Streeting said he expects “loud opposition” to reform.

But he warned of a “rising tide of pressure” facing the NHS and highlighted a report of the IPPR’s Commission on Health and Prosperity, which concluded that Britain is the “sick man of Europe” when it comes to health.

“If we don’t act now, ever-increasing demands for healthcare threaten to overwhelm and bankrupt the NHS,” he said.

“Our sick society is also holding back our economy.”

He highlighted how a drop in productivity due to ill health “has cost our economy £25 billion since 2018” and how 900,000 more people are off work than would have been on pre-pandemic trends.

“Fail to act and by the end of this parliament, 4.3 million people could be off work sick. Millions of people left behind, the welfare bill will balloon, and growth will be hampered.

“To build a healthy economy, we need a healthier society.

“To achieve that, we need reform of the health service and public health reform, too.”

The IPPR Commission is co-chaired by Lord Darzi – who recently led a hard-hitting review into the state of the NHS for the Government – and England’s former chief medical officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies.

Lord Darzi’s report, published last week, concluded that the NHS is “in serious trouble” and has prompted Labour to promise widespread reform of the health service.

Mr Streeting added: “The great thing about the Darzi report – it is not a left-wing or a right-wing view of the NHS. It told hard truths to both sides of the debate.

“And it forces me to now take on both left and right-wing orthodoxies.

“The lesson from the Darzi report is clear- the Tories did neither; this government has got to do both.

“Reform always has opponents, often vocal and powerful opponents. The Prime Minister and I will face down that opposition because it is in the interest of patients, the health service, and taxpayers in this country.

“It really is reform or die, and we choose reform.”

Mr Streeting said that the Government would set out its plans for reform in the early part of next year which will deliver “three big shifts in the focus of the NHS: from analogue to digital, hospital to community and sickness to prevention”.

Asked about “nanny state” concerns over reform, Mr Streeting said: “I have not banned cake in the Department of Health.

“I’m really not interested in being the fun police or telling people how to live their lives, and people certainly won’t have to worry about closing their curtains at night in case I’m peering through the window and looking at what they’re eating, drinking or smoking.

“We do take this issue of chronic disease seriously and the impact is having on our lives – our life expectancy, our ability to live our lives to the fullest extent for the longest time possible.

“And crucially, when it comes to measures we are considering, especially where this involves legislation, I don’t believe in doing things to people, I believe in doing things with people – we want to change the national conversation about our health and our wellbeing and the types of reforms that we might want to see.

“Smoking is at the easier end of the spectrum frankly, it is still the biggest killer. It is uniquely harmful, it is uniquely addictive and there are unquestionably harms that occur through second-hand smoking and passive smoking, we’ve got to take that seriously,

“But we’re going to consult, we’re going to engage and we are going to enjoy the national debate in the process.”

Source: The Independent, 18 September 2024

See also: IPPR – Our greatest asset ([link removed])
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** Hartlepool family share their story of loss for stop-smoking TV advert

A family from Hartlepool are fronting a 'quit smoking' campaign after experiencing their own loss as a result of the habit.

The North East once had the highest number of smokers in the country, and while hard campaigning has reduced the scale of it, two out of three smokers will die as a result of smoking.

Denham Thomas was one of those people. He had his first cigarette aged 10 and his death was from a disease directly linked to tobacco.

His widow, daughter and granddaughter are now featuring in a TV advertising campaign to urge others to quit before it is too late.

A former fitness instructor, Denham was diagnosed with COPD aged 35 and spent the next 20 years hooked up to oxygen and in a wheelchair.

His daughter Sadie, who was a champion boxer in her teenage years, said she did not remember her dad ever being well, while Debbie became his carer.

Recordings of Denham show him struggling to breathe in his final weeks in 2021.

Debbie said her late husband wanted other smokers to see him at his worst in a bid to deter others from lighting up.

Hoping their awful loss at the very least leads others to quit, Debbie and Sadie decided to take part in a new TV advert, which includes the footage of Denham.

The message? "Stop smoking now."

Speaking about her involvement, Sadie said: "I'm absolutely over the moon and I think he would be thrilled that we've been a part of something that he really believed in.

"And even if it inspires one person, that's done its job.

Ailsa Rutter, Director of the regional tobacco control programme Fresh, who produced the campaign, said: "These campaigns are really important, but on their own they're not a magic solution.

"That's why we must have lots of other things happening - the really important role of our Stop Smoking Services. This is still our biggest cause of health inequalities."

This tv campaign is focussing on more than just the smoking fatality rate.

"It is about that terrible impact it has," added Ailsa, "and for their loved ones as well. You feel so helpless."

Source: ITV X, 17 September 2024

See also: Fresh - Families share life changing stories in Smoking Survivors campaign ([link removed])
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** Lib Dems unveil new top team after election success

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has unveiled his new 33-member frontbench team, as he promised to focus on issues including the NHS, social care and the cost-of-living crisis.

It comes after the number of Lib Dem MPs grew to a record 72 at July's general election, making them the third largest party in the House of Commons.

Helen Morgan, who won the North Shropshire by-election in 2021, will lead on health and social care - a key priority for the party.

She replaces Daisy Cooper, who remains the party's deputy leader but will also take on the key role of Treasury spokesperson, focusing on the cost-of-living crisis.

Former members of the Lib Dem frontbench, Layla Moran, Alistair Carmichael and Jamie Stone have stepped back from their roles after being elected to chair parliamentary select committees.

The party hopes that having Lib Dem MPs chairing some of these committees will give them greater influence.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed said: "My new frontbench will champion the people’s priorities, ensuring we hold the new government to account as a responsible opposition.

"I am humbled by the result of the general election and the millions of voters who put their trust in the Liberal Democrats, including many for the first time. We will stand up for our communities every day on the issues that matter most, fixing health and care services, tackling the cost of living crisis and protecting our precious environment."

Source: BBC, 18 September 2024
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