As expected, the government’s Autumn Statement has not exactly been putting smiles on peoples’ faces. However, the NHS has been one of the few public services to see more cash being diverted its way. Social care spending is also being increased, but the plans to place a cap on the amount of money that individuals would pay towards their care costs have been delayed for another two years. Laura Kuenssberg spoke to the Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay, and asked him whether the Dilnot proposals were ever likely to see the light of day:
Collapsing A&E targets
Kuenssberg also challenged Barclay over the state of waiting times in Accident and Emergency departments, which have risen sharply since 2020:
‘I’m very keen to engage’ with health unions
Sophy Ridge also spoke to Barclay and asked him about the prospect of nurses going on strike, which could happen this December:
Gary Smith – Steve Barclay ‘is deluded’ and ‘dishonest’
The General Secretary of the GMB union Gary Smith was on a panel watching Barclay’s interview with Kuenssberg and laid into the Health Secretary soon after:
Kwajo Tweneboa – ‘We need criminal charges’ for bad landlords
Following the death of the two-year-old Awaab Ishak in his home in Rochdale, Sophy Ridge spoke to the social housing activist Kwajo Tweneboa.
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