07.06.13
Open or closed?
Reconfiguring services does not “necessarily” mean closing hospitals, health secretary Jeremy Hunt has repeated at the NHS Confederation.
Is this sort of ambiguity adding to the public confusion and resistance to reorganisation of care that NHS leaders have been pushing for? Hospitals should close – that is the message the sector is trying to make clear. A lack of political will to come out and say so demonstrates Hunt’s intention to put voter’s feelings above improving the health service.
Starting an honest debate need not lead to scaremongering about the scale of the challenges ahead, but getting an aligned ambition for the future of the NHS is vital, and Hunt’s comments in this respect are simply unhelpful.
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Image c. tommy ironic