When I talk to pensioners, almost without exception, we talk about the NHS – it’s the reason I came into politics.
That’s why I was pleased to read this week’s report by Lord Darzi, an honest and sometimes brutal snapshot of where the NHS stands at the moment. It’s not a comfortable read.
Almost all areas of the NHS need improvement. This includes GP services, waiting times for operations, dentistry, mental health and community services. A&E services come in for particular criticism. In 2010, 94% of patients were seen within 4 hrs. That number is now 60%. Doctors have said that the long waits are currently responsible for 14,000 additional deaths a year.
It may take 10 years to get the NHS back to what it once was, but we can do it. The report notes that staff have a “deep and abiding belief in NHS values and there is a shared passion and determination to make the NHS better for our patients.”
The week also saw two votes on the means testing of the Winter Fuel Payment. I have been really clear in my warnings about this, and signed an Early Day Motion urging delay and further consideration. If we get this wrong, it may also impact the recovery of the NHS.
The financial black hole is real, and a properly structured approach to reducing payments to those who do not depend on them, while protecting those who do, is sensible and fair. However, I think that the cap for receiving the WFP is set too low. However, I was given some concessions in support of a campaign to raise the cap and restructure the cut off so that pensioners who just miss out on the WFP would be able to retain the benefit. We cannot let people fall through the gap.
I had been planning to abstain on both votes on this issue, but in the end, as a result of those concessions, I backed the government on one of the votes, and abstained on the other.
I urge people to get in touch with us: my team can help with the claiming process for things like Pension Credit and other help.
The best way to get in touch is to email on simon.opher.mp@parliament.uk
