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London mayor: Khan pledges to lead on health as GPs declare 'state of emergency' London mayor: Khan pledges to lead on health as GPs declare 'state of emergency'
(about 2 hours later)
London mayors have only very limited control over health services in London, but they can make a lot of noise about it if they want. Labour candidate Sadiq Khan turned up the campaign volume on Tuesday with a promise to be “the first mayor to provide real leadership for London’s NHS” and a poke in his main rival Zac Goldsmith’s eye. “He has said nothing about the future of London’s NHS,” Khan observed of the Conservative, “because he knows that Londoners simply do not trust him or his party with it.” London mayors have only very limited control over health services in London, but they can make a lot of noise about them if they want. Labour candidate Sadiq Khan turned up the campaign volume on Tuesday with a promise to be “the first mayor to provide real leadership for London’s NHS” and a poke in his main rival Zac Goldsmith’s eye. “He has said nothing about the future of London’s NHS,” Khan observed of the Conservative, “because he knows that Londoners simply do not trust him or his party with it.”
Khan pointed out that Goldsmith reportedly pledged during the 2010 general election campaign to “trigger a by election and allow people to penalise my party,” if Kingston hospital in his Richmond Park and North Kingston constituency had any of its services cut. But in February 2011, with the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in government, Goldsmith accepted the projected loss of almost 500 staff because “hospitals around the country are having to find savings and ours is no different.” Kingston’s was expecting a 25% reduction in its budget over the ensuing five years. “Goldsmith will break every promise he makes on the NHS,” asserted Khan.Khan pointed out that Goldsmith reportedly pledged during the 2010 general election campaign to “trigger a by election and allow people to penalise my party,” if Kingston hospital in his Richmond Park and North Kingston constituency had any of its services cut. But in February 2011, with the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in government, Goldsmith accepted the projected loss of almost 500 staff because “hospitals around the country are having to find savings and ours is no different.” Kingston’s was expecting a 25% reduction in its budget over the ensuing five years. “Goldsmith will break every promise he makes on the NHS,” asserted Khan.
Goldsmith, who is presenting himself as someone more than ready to take issue with fellow Tories in national government if necessary, no doubt disagrees. There is, though, a strong body of medical as well as political opinion that the health service in London is over-stretched, under-resourced and ill-fitted for meeting the particular needs of the capital’s fast-growing population.Goldsmith, who is presenting himself as someone more than ready to take issue with fellow Tories in national government if necessary, no doubt disagrees. There is, though, a strong body of medical as well as political opinion that the health service in London is over-stretched, under-resourced and ill-fitted for meeting the particular needs of the capital’s fast-growing population.
Underlining this, the body representing the capital’s 6,000 general practitioners has just declared a “GP state of emergency,” claiming that “general practice is at breaking point,” with doctors leaving the profession and patients at risk of no longer having one. Dr Michelle Drage, leader of Londonwide LMCs (Local Medical Committees), says that the organisation’s most recent six-monthly workforce survey found that “almost half of practices are short at least one member of staff, a third are missing at least one GP and 39 practices are considering handing back the keys within three years.”Underlining this, the body representing the capital’s 6,000 general practitioners has just declared a “GP state of emergency,” claiming that “general practice is at breaking point,” with doctors leaving the profession and patients at risk of no longer having one. Dr Michelle Drage, leader of Londonwide LMCs (Local Medical Committees), says that the organisation’s most recent six-monthly workforce survey found that “almost half of practices are short at least one member of staff, a third are missing at least one GP and 39 practices are considering handing back the keys within three years.”
This follows a London Assembly health committee report last March which found that 22 of the 30 local authority areas in England rated worst for seeing a GP of patients’ choice were in the capital and that 18% of Londoners complained that they couldn’t get appointments to see doctors compared with 11% nationally. In 28 of London’s 32 boroughs the proportion of patients saying that a good experience of seeing a GP was below the average for England.This follows a London Assembly health committee report last March which found that 22 of the 30 local authority areas in England rated worst for seeing a GP of patients’ choice were in the capital and that 18% of Londoners complained that they couldn’t get appointments to see doctors compared with 11% nationally. In 28 of London’s 32 boroughs the proportion of patients saying that a good experience of seeing a GP was below the average for England.
Khan is not alone in criticising the abolition of NHS London, which was the capital’s strategic health body until March 2013. In the wake of this, Boris Johnson commissioned a report by surgeon Lord Darzi (who had previously produced a Framework for Action on NHS London’s behalf). Entitled Better Health for London, it argued for vigorous action against drivers of ill-health such as smoking, poor diet and excessive drinking, with a particular focus on children - London’s childhood obesity figures are as frightening as its child poverty stats.Khan is not alone in criticising the abolition of NHS London, which was the capital’s strategic health body until March 2013. In the wake of this, Boris Johnson commissioned a report by surgeon Lord Darzi (who had previously produced a Framework for Action on NHS London’s behalf). Entitled Better Health for London, it argued for vigorous action against drivers of ill-health such as smoking, poor diet and excessive drinking, with a particular focus on children - London’s childhood obesity figures are as frightening as its child poverty stats.
Khan says he would be “the first mayor to provide real leadership for London’s NHS,” and pledges to fill the vacuum where he believes “strategic planning and coordination” is needed. What might this mean in practice?Khan says he would be “the first mayor to provide real leadership for London’s NHS,” and pledges to fill the vacuum where he believes “strategic planning and coordination” is needed. What might this mean in practice?
Johnson chairs a London Health Board of elected London government leaders and health professionals, but it has no legal powers. In December, chancellor George Osborne signed a “health devolution agreement” allowing five pilot schemes to give some of capital’s boroughs more control over the design and running of selected health and social care services. The mayor was party to this too, and said it would pave the way for the city as a whole to become “more responsive to the needs of Londoners.”Johnson chairs a London Health Board of elected London government leaders and health professionals, but it has no legal powers. In December, chancellor George Osborne signed a “health devolution agreement” allowing five pilot schemes to give some of capital’s boroughs more control over the design and running of selected health and social care services. The mayor was party to this too, and said it would pave the way for the city as a whole to become “more responsive to the needs of Londoners.”
A future Mayor Khan’s task would include taking a close interest in all this, building on it if possible, making the case for further devolved powers and kicking up a public stink about the frayed and unsuitable state of London’s health services as a whole. What mayors say matters less than what they do, but some things still need shouting about.A future Mayor Khan’s task would include taking a close interest in all this, building on it if possible, making the case for further devolved powers and kicking up a public stink about the frayed and unsuitable state of London’s health services as a whole. What mayors say matters less than what they do, but some things still need shouting about.