Published by The Guardian (4th July, 2014) A whiteboard in the corner of Jeremy Hunt’s Whitehall office symbolises a struggle over the soul of modern government. It details […]
Health / Policy
The NHS must evolve – or face a painful death
Published by The Guardian (2nd June, 2014) Politicians have a poor record of fighting the wars of the past rather than facing up to those of the future. […]
Politics
The dark horse candidate to succeed Cameron
Published in The Independent (February 19th, 2014) Slowly but surely, discreet campaigns to succeed David Cameron as Tory party leader are slipping through the gears. There is little […]
Health / Policy / Politics
At last, a Health Secretary who puts patients first
Published in The Daily Mail (December 27th, 2013) As in every other walk of life, the ending of the political year offers an opportunity to pause and reflect […]
Politics
Remembrance Day remains as relevant as ever. Just don’t tell me to wear a poppy
Published in The Guardian (November 10th, 2013) Just as I was about to go in front of the cameras on a BBC news show, the producer came up […]
Policy / Politics / Whitehall
The civil service: a monster in Whitehall
Published in The Guardian (July 16th, 2013) Britain has a bad habit of deluding itself over its institutions. We proclaim the National Health Service to be the envy […]
Health / Policy
Worshipping the NHS costs lives
Published in The Independent on Sunday (23rd June, 2013) Imagine if an airline crashed 10 planes each year, killing 3,000 passengers in avoidable accidents. After its most disturbing […]
Disability / Health / Policy
The NHS is killing disabled people
Published in The Guardian (May 22nd, 2013) My daughter was ill at the weekend. Just a heavy cold; but when your child has profound and multiple learning disabilities, […]
Health / Policy
A helpline in crisis and doctors who refuse to put patients’ interests above their own
Published in The Daily Mail (May 6th, 2013) For weeks there have been many stories emerging of patients left hanging on the phone, fearful or in pain; urgent […]
Health / Policy / Politics
The man they couldn’t hang
Published in The Independent on Sunday (31st March, 2013) When the National Health Service rose like a merciful phoenix from the wreckage of a war-torn nation, its founder […]
Aid / Health / Policy / Politics / Social care
Overseas aid: an indefensible ringfence
Published in The Guardian (March 14th, 2013) One of the first rules of opposition is to avoid rash promises that can come back to throttle you in government. […]
Health / Policy / Politics
Cover-up: the public are sickened by such cynicism
Published in The Daily Mail (February 22nd, 2013) Julie Bailey is a heroine of our age. She is the cafe owner from Stafford who saw her elderly mother […]