In a New Year’s speech that reads a bit like a motivational presentation to launch - or conclude - a conference programme, the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, yesterday set out his vision “to change the way the country works” through hard work and innovation.
It’s a speech that aims to set the direction of travel but as yet provides no detail about the form that journey will take. More detailed plans to tackle each of his five pledges are promised for the coming months.
The PM said: “We need to recognise that something has to change,” before going on to make five pledges: to halve inflation; create economic growth; reduce national debt; pass new laws to tackle illegal migration; and reduce NHS waiting lists.
More than seven million people are waiting for care - that’s one eighth of the population. “NHS waiting lists will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly,” Mr Sunak said. Whilst he offered no more detail on how the government plans to achieve this, he did set out more detail about the future of the NHS:
• No structural reforms to the NHS - “We will always protect the founding principle of an NHS free at the point of use”
• Putting patients in control
• Using more independent capacity - “if that’s what it takes to get patients quicker and better care”
• Enabling patients to access information and data so they can make informed choices and hold services to account
• Unwarranted variation in performance between Trusts will no longer be accepted.
“We need to change our mindset”
Describing the five pledges as the foundation of his ambition to build a better future, Mr Sunak repeatedly emphasised the need for change, saying that the government cannot provide change but it has to be created through hard work and sacrifice by everyone.
He set out his vision, including a more innovative economy, stronger communities and safer streets, a world-class education system, an NHS built around patients, and a society that values the family.
That’s the vision, and it sounds good, but how we get there remains to be seen. It is clear that there is no magic wand solution but a collective effort is expected.
A final request from the PM: “I ask you to judge us on the effort we put in and the results we achieve.”
