This week, GP reveals that support for Labour among GPs is in freefall. This is not unexpected, but the extent of the swing away from the party towards the Tories shows just how unhappy GPs are with the government.
Backing for Labour has fallen by two-thirds in the past decade, from 44% in 1997 to just 15% now. Over the same period, support for the Conservatives has surged from 24% to 50%.
The Tories are, unsurprisingly, delighted with the results. Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary, said: ‘This is a real vote of confidence in the Conservative party’s policies for the NHS.’
But, is it? Our survey suggests that the swing is a result of disillusionment with Labour as opposed to anything else. Over half of GPs rated Labour’s performance on the NHS since 1997 as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’.
Considering the record investment the government has made, the introduction of the QOF which has significantly improved patient care and a massive fall in deaths from heart disease, among other achievements, this may be surprising to those outside the profession.
But, during the past few years the government has unleashed a series of policies that many feel have been designed to undermine GPs and could eventually bring the end of general practice as we know it: the expanding role of the private sector and the introduction of GP-led health centres to name but two.
Add to that an ultimatum that practices must open for longer (regardless of whether their patients want them to) or lose money; three successive annual pay freezes; an increasing insistence that GPs follow a dizzying array of protocols and guidance rather than using their own judgement; and an apparent fondness among some at the DoH to indulge in a spot of public GP bashing, and it is not hard to see why GPs are so disillusioned with Labour.
We’re interested in knowing what you think about all of this. Does the Conservative Party actually have better policies on health – or, is it just that anyone else is better than the current lot? What has been Labour’s biggest mistake during the past 10 years to cause this massive shift? What policies would you like to see dropped or introduced?
You can post your comments below to let us know what you think.
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