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NHS Staffing

I apologise, Madam Deputy Speaker. The Government have had 10 years to get a grip on the situation, yet there has been an abject failure of planning for our NHS work force. The Government thought that all would be well if they chucked money at the NHS. In fairness, they have done that, but they have not considered what has happened to the money. One could consider it quite a feat that a Government who have given large pay rises to staff—particularly GPs and consultants—should also have managed to be so disliked and to drive morale down. We have mentioned targets. I recently had a conversation with an A and E physician who is unable to keep his patients who are waiting for an intensive care bed on at A and E simply because the manager wants them up in the medical ward, where they are less well looked after, so that he can meet his targets. The Royal College of Nursing states that there are serious deficiencies in work force planning and that they need to be addressed. There is an all-time low of health visitors, despite the fact that health inequalities are rising. The Secretary of State himself said last year:"““The reality on the ground is that there is a gloomy mood. There has been an awful lot of change in a short period and staff feel overwhelmed by it.””" The verdict on the Government's work force planning is definitely D-minus—[Interruption.] The Minister is smiling again, but I do not think that NHS staff will share her joy. ““Could do better””—it is a disgrace and appalling. I urge the Minister to stop listening to her officials at the Department who reassure her, and instead face up to the truth. In many areas, the NHS work force is in freefall. The incompetence shown by the Government is outstanding—