Lansley’s real fight

Yesterday was a rare good day for Andrew Lansley: the Health Bill survived its trial in the House of Lords. But there are no fanfares in this morning’s press for the near-moribund health secretary. The Times, The Telegraph, The Independent and The Mail all lead with the story that 50 per cent of English hospitals fail elderly patients according to the Quality Care Commission. Lansley may have thought that his struggle was with nit-picking peers, who are determined that he, as the secretary state, remains ultimately accountable for the NHS in the letter of the law. But, maintaining the standard of NHS care is his real battle.

The irony of the recent squabble between the government and the Owenites is that today’s headlines suggest it was needless. Who is the public most likely to blame for a general picture of rising waiting lists, crowded wards and uncompassionate nursing? Why, the secretary of state of course.