DEAR editor,

The bleak despair of the Conservative leadership contest has been punctuated by the euphoria of the Lionesses’ great victory. Funny how women, who have traditionally got a raw deal from the Football Association, managed to achieve what the men have so significantly failed to deliver. Healthcare is also not delivering.

Getting a GP appointment, an ambulance or seeing a doctor in A&E stand at record levels while the numbers awaiting treatment is over 6.6 million. Whilst the government blames Covid, the reality is that the figures were getting worse before then.

On cancer care Britain in 2019 was already languishing at the bottom of international league tables. England cancer survival is 10 to 15 years behind leading nations. Yes 10 to 15 years behind!

Apart from all the misery caused by a dysfunctional NHS, the situation is having a significant economic impact.

Britain unlike Europe has lost a significant part of its older workforce during the pandemic. Recent research suggests this may be due to the high levels of more mature workers awaiting treatment before they can rejoin the workforce.

Hidden amongst the figures are also those who need treatment but have decided to forgo it due to the difficulties in getting any.

What can be done about all this? The first issue is to realise that there is a problem. After 12 years of Conservative government this appears difficult.

The second is to look at ways of resolving it. Staffing is key to any NHS recovery.

We lack significant numbers of doctors and nurses, all of whom take years to train. The government fails to take any responsibility, believing that is should be left to market forces.

This makes us a health parasite. In the past we attracted health professionals from the Commonwealth then from Europe because we did not train enough.

Current immigration rules make it much more difficult. People also do not like working for failing organisations.

One short term fix is to change the pension tax arrangements for doctors. As this now stands once they build up the pension to a certain level, they effectively have to pay to work. This encourages many to retire early.

Cllr Luigi Gregori

Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for North West Hants