29
Jun
'Long term' approach needed to health after election, say local officials
A long term approach to health in the Harrogate district is needed from the next government, say local health officials.
Manifestos from the major parties all promise additional funding, reform and more GP appointments if elected.
However, health bosses and charities in the Harrogate district say that the issue over health is more complex.
Ahead of polling day, the Stray Ferret asked those working in the health sector what they felt the main issues were locally and whether enough has been done to address them.
Sebastian Contreras, an osteopath who works at Castle Clinic in Knaresborough, said the general state of the public’s health was the main problem at the moment.
He said:
We’re all aware of the difficulty in accessing health services and I’m sure there are a multitude of reasons for this, that all desperately need addressing.
But putting access to health services to the side, for me one of the main issues locally and nationally is that we’re seeing people’s general health deteriorate. Levels of obesity continue to rise in all age groups, people’s mental health is worsening and the numbers of sick days at school and in the work place is on the up.
So, what is the solution?
For Mr Contreras, there needs to be “long term thinking” from those in government on a whole range of factors including town planning and transport.
Part of this is to encourage more movement in people to help encourage exercise.
Mr Contreras also called on politicians to have a “serious debate” over the use of smart phones in under-16s.
He said:
I’d also love to see some serious debate in parliament about restricting the use of smart phones in the under 16s.
I’m sure this technology in children is a blocker to exercise as well as healthy social and emotional development and one of the leading causes of worsening physical and mental health in this critical age group. If we can make it easier for our population to keep moving, I think this will help greatly with the health of our nation.
Dementia strategy
The concern over health and how the next government tackles it does not stop at general health and wellbeing. It extends to those with mental health conditions, such as dementia.
The condition mainly affects those over the age of 65 and includes memory loss, confusion and difficulties with thinking and problem-solving.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, around 1.4 million people in the UK are expected to be living with dementia by 2040.
The matter is something that Burton Leonard-based charity, Dementia Forward, is tackling. The organisation helps 4,500 families across North Yorkshire with support for dementia.
Jill Quinn, chief executive of Dementia Forward, echoed the sentiment over the need for long term thinking from politicians and government. She said the country had no national dementia strategy and that “radical changes” were needed.
Ms Quinn added that much of the problem was that those discussing strategies for dealing with dementia were mainly London-centric organisations.
She said:
There needs to be a blank canvass approach - there is so much that is wrong and yet we believe there are creative and innovative ways of solving some of the current problems.
We hope the government, whoever they may be, can get brave, hear the voices of those people living and working in the field (not just in London) and make radical changes - and make them quick.
Politicians' pledges
The issues facing the health sector has not escaped the attention of politicians.
During the election, both national parties and local candidates have sought to stress how they would help to fix the crisis facing healthcare.
In Harrogate and Knaresborough, Labour’s Conrad Whitcroft pointed to the party’s plan to scrap nom-dom status in order to fund the NHS and tackle the demand for dentist appointments.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives have focussed some of their manifesto on social care and pledged to cap costs at £86,000 for people who are older or disabled in England.
Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat candidate in Harrogate and Knaresborough, has backed his party’s plan for 8,000 more GPs in England.
Elewhere, Shan Oakes, the Green Party candidate, told a Stray Ferret hustings recently that the focus in the health service should be on preventative measures and that doctors should be paid properly.
Reform UK’s Jonathan Swales said a voucher system could be used so that people could access treatment in the private sector and help clear the backlogs in the NHS.
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