David Cameron sprinted faster than Usian Bolt to the TV cameras to defend the NHS yesterday, following Dan Hannan’s tv interview daring to criticise the NHS.  Hannan claimed he was ‘amazed’ that Americans were thinking of introducing a system like the NHS, called it a ‘relic’, concluding that he ‘wouldn’t wish it on anybody’. 

Also interesting to note that perhaps I was wrong on the decline of the Right Wing as with both Davis and now Hannan, wagging their tail and shaping the news agenda, things are afoot on the Right?  (Whither the Right…..Right Wing in Retreat? http://bit.ly/F7miZ)

Hannan was interviewed as Obama seeks to provide Universal healthcare coverage in the USA.  This is proving to be an issue to take him to his limits as the US people fear his plans and the harshest American critics have gone as far as to say the NHS is ‘Orwellian’ and even ‘evil’.

For those that missed Hanan’s comments.  Take a look at this clip from the brilliant Sky News:

This produced a veritable shitstorm in the media.  With News Channels struggling to fill their schedules in the silly season, this was like a gift from heaven.  Labour lept out the starting blocks and lied their way to headline grabbing attention.  Andy Burnham even had the audacity to call Dan Hannan ‘unpatriotic’. 

Cameron’s was the most interesting reaction.  He put down Hannan quite mightily, some would say patronisingly, by saying Hannan has ‘eccentric views’.  Wow.  I am sure that rattled Dan’s cage.

Now this whole shitstorm has many viewpoints.  First off, we are obviously living in delicate times heading towards the next election whereby the media and Labour will seize on any comments and twist them.  Hence any politician daring to criticise or make suggestions for improvements must know of the repercussions.  Hannan would have known that speaking on the issue of the sacred cow of the NHS, would lead to media headlines.  If he did not realise that to be so then I underestimate him as a man. 

Cameron is so close, so so close, to leading the Conservatives back to power.  He is trying to tread the tightrope to power and hence wants no damaging headlines and the full spotlight to be on Labour and their obvious failings.  Hence Hannan’s intervention would have pissed Cameron off royally yesterday.  Cameron has, give him his due, turned the health issue into a Conservative vote winner and no longer is it an election Achilles heel.  (Hence why Labour lept on these comments yesterday to reopen old wounds and hence why ‘Usian Bolt Cameron’ sprinted to belittle Hannan and show the NHS was safe in his hands.

For Cameron the NHS is a personal issue.  he more than many, has first hand experience of how the NHS cared for Ivan.  The NHS did all they could for Ivan and DC spent many nights sleeping in hospitals to be with his son and care for him.  Hence, Cameron has a life long support for the NHS and no person can credibly question his commitment to the NHS.  The British people know how much the NHS means to DC and hence Labour fear this.

But the other point to this story is that, so sanitised is British politics coming, is free speech dead?……or at least until after the next election?  Do Conservative politicians have to take a vow of silence and tow the Party line?  When is suggestions for new policies and ideas becoming a criticism and challenge to the leadership?

That feels anathema to modern politics.  We revel in being the finest Parliamentary Democracy in the world.  We revel in debate.  New ideas.  Challenging the status quo.  If an idea is strong, questioning it will either increase its value proposition or lead to a new idea and change.  But debate is being curtailed.  The House of Commons is run by guillotine.  sad times for free thinking and debate.

The NHS is treated by media and Labour alike as the sacred cow…..it must always be in place, never touched, never questioned.  Gordon Brown loves the NHS, then sneaks off for private healthcare.  Hypocritical to the extreme.

Is the NHS perfect?  No where near.  Does it need reform?  Hell, yes.  Can we talk about it?  Not yet….it seems.

So asking these questions, Andy Burnham would call me ‘unpatriotic’!  (what an idiotic statement from the Health Secretary, linking in patriotism and health care is moronic).

Does the NHS deliver value for the billions it spends?        (NO)

Is it right that it operates a postcode lottery for life-saving drugs?   (NO)

Why are hospitals still riddled with filthy wards and the MRSA superbug?   (YES WHY?)

Why does the UK still lag behind on cancer survival rates and waiting lists?   (NO CREDIBLE ANSWERS TO THIS)

Why do we need such a large, bureaucratic management structure to support it?  (WHY?)

The NHS Spends a billion pounds every 3 days and employs over a million and a half staff.  There must surely be room for cost savings and efficiency costs.   (YES)

There are huge inefficiencies. Spending on bureaucracy has nearly doubled in four years, with almost £1.2billion now lavished on administrators and clerical staff in Primary Care Trusts.  The total is almost twice as much as the £700million the Health Service spent on anti-cancer drugs last year.

So to David Cameron.  Yes, we have to win the next election.  Yes, the founding principles of the NHS must be respected and its egalitarian ethos preserved.   But isn’t now a great time for us Conservatives to start a deep, sensible debate about the future of our NHS. Now is a great opportunity, let’s use it.  We must stop just pumping more and more and more and more and more and more money in the NHS as unquestioningly as we have for many years.  The NHS could be more efficient with less money….now there’s a shocking point….spend less on the NHS and get better healthcare!

We must never shackle free speech.  We should not criticise others for opening debate.  Yes, we should be sensitive to the next election and opinion polls but we are a broad church and a party of reform.  Let’s discuss the big issues.