Health secretary Wes Streeting gives speech on future of health and social care – watch live

Streeting is speaking at the Future of Britain conference hosted by the Tony Blair Institute

The Guardian on YouTube:

[noahderrington]

So refreshing to have the grownups back in the room after the toxic incompetence and corruption of the Tories

[operationbroomstick]

Please get rid of junk food vending machines in hospitals.

[Flynbourne]

Ah the maturity, the competence, the sensibility. Phew.

[gillb]

So can someone explain how we can't afford the NHS as it is but increasing the input of private healthcare providers who are more expensive because they are making profits as well is going to somehow make the system more affordable?

[chakku]

Such a refreshing and vision speech- change is like day light from the previous administration

[smileytortoise]

Seems like this govt is learning from the Singapore experience for total healthcare and wellness

[adamtiley]

>Tax fast food and junk/unhealthy snacks.
>Use the money to subsidize fruit, veg and healthy food.

[SarahCoxWrites]

Please please do not go the Australian route. The governmental medicare subsidy that GPs get is not keeping pace with inflation. The legislation changed to allow GPs to charge whatever they like and we are now seeing gap payments preventing people from going to the GP. The NHS is amazing in what it has delivered and its potential to deliver again. It deserves to be nurtured, which will ultimately ensure a healthier and more productive workforce.

[catladyfluff]

I feel so much more at peace now they are in control. For the first time in ages I see hope for our country. Lets see what they do with the power they have ❤

[ipadprogamer]

Funny how it’s not a doctor talking about future of health 😂

[jimc]

It all sounds very positive from all the new ministers of state .. they seem to be leveling with the Public .. lets hope it pays off

[AramasG]

They need to make working for the NHS attractive. Improve the working conditions and maybe freeze student loan payments for staff for the length of their employment. If they leave for the private sector the student loan gets released. Reduce the use of agency staff as a long term goal.
My daughter’s hospital has a private ward which raises funds for the hospital trust.

[ynwaxinistanbul]

I think that is a lack of understanding from Wes there, the issue was you could not book up an appointment into the future which would be convenient for the patient & be efficient / allow planning for the GP practice. The reason you could not book in advance was the disfunction of imposed targets / the law of unintended consequences. There was a requirement for people to be able to see their GP within 48 hrs, therefore no other option was provided for.

[schofield]

I’d happily pay to see a GP if it meant a better service than what we have now, which is non existent!

[soldier-Dave]

You are a clever man with much power and responsibility. You have to decide which one is the more important and then use the other to guide you!

[catherinekeller]

I call this "Expansive thinking"..it's the long range and not the " quick fix" he's smart and passionate about the NHS...Let's hope he does not get jaded in a year or so!

[BeardedSte]

So many comments thankful for having someone sensible and competent but all I'm hearing is up in the air, obvious statements without any real policy to back it up. How much money will the NHS get? Will it be more or less than previously? Where will the money go? What will the priorities be? What spending will be cut? How will the NHS be made more efficient? I haven't learnt anything new from this.

[bb_nation]

Understanding the link between waiting lists and growth is so refreshing to see someone gets it. Get people healthy they get back to work, saves and makes money

[lestrem]

If the Tories were so bad ( and they were ) being better should be easy, surely?

[douglasfielder]

Interviewer so anxious to intervene he has his pen ready to stab WS and probably not listening.