Ok, let's get the negatives out of the way first. Imagine your house is on fire and a neighbour turns up with a bucket of water. You can't fault the principle that water is a proven means of subduing fire, nor the helpful intent to try and help. Regardless, it's not going to put the fire out, is it? So it is, with the 10-year Health Plan for England, which has fine intentions, and broadly says the right things, but is laughably light on the detail of implementation or how the shift from acute to community care is going to be achieved without any additional resources. There are other issues too.
One, this 10-year plan follows on the heels of the ‘long-term plan' launched to much acclaim in January 2019. Much like the well-intentioned prime minister of the day, Theresa May, it really didn't pass the test of time. Why would there be any confidence that it will be better this time, in a world of flat growth, massive instability and surging demands on other budgets, not lease defence?
