20th Aug 2026

The focus at the moment around who will be the next health minister is missing the real core of the problem, what is needed is a new direction . As the current proposals leave rural communities vulnerable to life and death situations because of the down grading of local hospitals that have served patients and service users well. Those who have been calling for the reforms that decimate health and social care services are not acting in the best interest of patients they have bought into the vested interests of those inside and outside of the national health service.

Our political leaders have moved lock stock and barrel away from the founding principles of the national health service and see the private sector as its saviour, they know that this sector is only interested in making profits from healthcare because they are businesses that operate for profit, the health services is not a business nor was it meant to be.

Those claiming that the current proposals have dealt with waiting lists,health inequalities, and quick access to primary care services are either delusional or unwilling to accept the damage that is being done to our much needed health and social care system because of the decisions they have made. The privatisation and fragmentation of services which they all agreed was where the crisis in healthcare has its origins. The “public services bad” private service good” has been a prevailing theme for the past decade and a half they have failed to protect their constituents they have engaged in rancour instead of rigger and have accepted all to willingly the promises of vested interests.

The Workers Party believes in the national health service and are willing to defend it while others scoff at its principles: the health and wellbeing of our citizens should not have become a political football. More interest has been shown to the plight of an individual minster than the welfare of the sick, the elderly and those who have suffered decades of health inequalities and poverty. This is an indictment on our political leaders and parties who should be defending the principles of free healthcare at the point of use regardless of creed, colour, or class.