Health
International variations in health: do they matter and should we care?
Posted by Mike Birtwistle at Tue, 27/07/2010 - 10:42am in Health Mandate commentary
The charge that the UK 'lags behind' the rest of the world on any form of health service makes a great story for the media and can be politically toxic for ministers. Voters hate the concept that England might be the poor man - let alone the sick man - of Europe. Yet being different from Europe is not necessarily a bad thing. After all, on many other issues the same commentators who decry variations with Europe in healthcare are all too proud to be different than our European neighbours.
A great transformation? What will the White Paper mean for the NHS?
Posted by Mike Birtwistle at Mon, 12/07/2010 - 3:38pm in Health Mandate commentary, Political commentary
For years in opposition, Conservative health policy has been something of a paradox. Policy papers setting out fundamental change in some detail (at least for an opposition) were accompanied by an almost boringly repetitive message of reassurance about the Party's belief in the NHS and its competence to manage it. The reassurance achieved cut through but the radical change which was explicit in the policy rarely did.
Health Mandate stars at Communique
Posted by Mike Birtwistle at Fri, 09/07/2010 - 1:56pm in Health Mandate commentary
Last night was a very good one for Heath Mandate, winning three prestigious Communiqué awards:
The battle on … social care
Posted by Elizabeth Wills at Thu, 29/04/2010 - 1:09pm in Health Mandate commentary, Political commentary
With the post-war baby boomers now rapidly approaching retirement, the issue of social care has become an increasingly pressing issue, and one that became one of the big political footballs in the run-up to the Election period. What with the leadership debates, the volcano and - today - the gaffe, social care has rather fallen off the political agenda. But today's TV debate provided a reminder of just how deep the ideological dividing lines are.
The battle on ... nurses
Posted by Martha Burgess at Wed, 28/04/2010 - 10:52am in Health Mandate commentary, Political commentary
With almost 420,000 qualified nurses working in the NHS - it's not hard to see why the political parties have been falling over themselves to make an appearance at the Royal College of Nursing's conference this week. The RCN congress is not an easy audience - and it will be interesting to see whose message will most resonate with the crowd who in 2006 slow-clapped Patricia Hewitt off the stage.
We can fight the unbeatable foe - Brown
Posted by Elizabeth Wills at Tue, 27/04/2010 - 1:24pm in Health Mandate commentary, Political commentary
"We can fight the unbeatable foe. Right the unrightable wrong. Reach the unreachable star." Sound familiar? No, it's not an excerpt from the latest episode of Glee, but the Prime Minister this week addressing the Royal College of Nursing during its annual conference in Bournemouth. Veering from Lesley Garrett's rendition of The Impossible Dream in a back room in Downing Street to the musings of Blake on the human condition, whatever the assembled nurses had expected to hear this morning from Gordon Brown, we doubt many would have placed their money on this.
The battle on ... cuts
Posted by Mike Birtwistle at Mon, 26/04/2010 - 3:58pm in Health Mandate commentary, Political commentary
Andy says Andrew will cut access to cancer diagnostics by abolishing targets. Andrew says Andy will cut access to local services by closing local hospitals. Norman says he'll cut the NHS budget, but won't cut services. All the main parties are agreed that cuts are an issue and all agree that the NHS faces a funding gap over the next few years. Yet all are equally adamant that their policies will avoid damaging cuts to frontline services. Are they all correct? Are any of them correct?
Where is the battle on ... health?
Posted by Bill Morgan at Thu, 22/04/2010 - 3:59pm in Health Mandate commentary, Political commentary
The Labour press conference on Monday witnessed Gordon Brown admit that the election so far has been, “a tale of two Nicks”: of NICs (national insurance, of course) and, perhaps most obviously, of Nick Clegg.
Mr Brown was almost right – it has been a tale of two Nicks, and a volcano. This was an event of extraordinary newsworthiness after all, which – even today – continues to crowd out coverage of the General Election. And the coverage which does manage to achieve that vital ‘cut-through’ is about the TV debates, and specifically about Nick Clegg.
Mental health and substance misuse take centre stage in Liberal Democrats' health proposals
Posted by Caroline Maxwell at Wed, 14/04/2010 - 2:58pm in Health Mandate commentary, Political commentary
Given its importance to the electorate, the NHS was notable in the Lib Dem manifesto launch for its marginality. Relegated from the front page - only fair taxes, fair chances (for children), a fair future (by creating jobs) and a fair deal (on politics) made it here. The NHS occupied instead only a handful of pages in the chapter entitled ‘your life'.
The Conservatives' NHYes Express gets ready to take to the streets to spread the word on the Conservatives' health pledges
Posted by Tessa Murray at Tue, 13/04/2010 - 4:45pm in Health Mandate commentary, Political commentary
Following a rousing speech from William Hague and then a tag team of Shadow Cabinet members, Andrew Lansley set out a clear invitation to health professionals and the public to ‘join the government of Britain', calling on us all to become ‘part of the change the NHS needs'.
