Nigel Farage is brave enough to admit 1 thing most politicians run away from
OPINION - MIEKA SMILES: Express columnist and Conservative councillor Mieka Smiles says a senior Labour politician has hit out at the Reform leader over the NHS.
Getting a doctor's appointment these days feels like an episode of The Krypton Factor. It’s become so tricky that I’ve now started sending dubious images of various ailments to ChatGPT for diagnosis.
After battling endless online forms, I was finally offered one…for a month’s time. It would be funny if it weren’t so serious: a healthcare service that feels more like a test of endurance to access basic care. And these problems run right through the system.
A few months ago, when my late dad was ill, our family saw it firsthand. He was passed from pillar to post and left in a fog of confusion when we needed clarity the most. My brother, who lives in America, was genuinely stunned. The US is hardly a healthcare poster child, but even he couldn’t believe how difficult it is to get straight answers.
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And yet, when it comes to the NHS, acknowledging the problem and discussing ways to fix it has become taboo. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has attacked Reform leader Nigel Farage, and that's before he’s even set out his plans for the NHS, for if he should snatch the keys to No 10.
He warned: “Nigel Farage should stop hiding from his guilty little secret, be straight with the British people about what he actually believes and tell us what he’ll actually do.”
At least Farage has the courage to acknowledge there’s a problem when it comes to funding, which is more than the vast majority of politicians, who live in fear of being cancelled for daring to question it. The Reform UK leader has previously said the UK should “re-examine” the NHS’s funding model, and recently said he is “prepared to consider any alternative to the failure we have now”.
In the past, Nigel Farage has mooted an insurance-based system, but has since said that he will keep the NHS free at the point of access. The truth is, it doesn’t have to be all free or all insurance: you can do both. If you look at Europe, you’ll see that there is a wealth of different funding models.
A reformed system wouldn’t have to mean replacing free healthcare. It could mean keeping guaranteed free care, and if you want to pay more, then you can. An NHS+, if you will, that could ensure quicker waiting times, faster tests and, for the love of God, doctors' appointments that you can easily book around your working day. I’d happily fork out a little more for that.
We all know that it’s not working in its current incarnation. But instead of facing the reality of the diagnosis, some politicians want to shut down all hope of a cure before we’ve even left the waiting room.
Teens say the funniest things, too
They say kids say the funniest things… but teenagers aren’t far behind. Logging on to my shift the other day prompted my 15-year-old lad to ask how long my working day is.
“About eight hours, George,” I said, impressed he was taking an interest. He thought for a moment.
“So basically a full day at school, a detention and some time in isolation… but you get paid?” I suppose when you put it like that…
Anyone for tennis?
When it comes to tennis, I’m very much a fairweather fan. I love the tennis whites, the strawberries and Champagne at Wimbledon (on TV, sadly) and all the tradition that comes with it. But, even though I barely know the rules, I do love picking up a racquet and giving it a good go. (The less said about the time I had a Serena Williams-style diva fit after losing to my younger sister, the better).
We recently joined our local club – Nunthorpe Racquets Club – and it’s been brilliant playing with the kids. And what great timing, as it was recently reported that playing tennis can add a whole decade to your lifespan! A 25-year Danish study found that tennis players lived an average of 9.7 years longer than people who didn’t exercise, nearly three times the gain seen in joggers and more than six times the benefit associated with going to the gym.
It can boost heart health, improve balance and strengthen bones and joints, and it can even ward off dementia. The social side is also great for longevity, say experts. Not bad motivation. Fancy a game?
