Well being Secretary Wes Streeting was slapped down by the BBC’s Nick Robinson this morning, as he floundered after being requested a easy query concerning the NHS. The Well being Secretary appeared on the day by day ministerial broadcast spherical to boast about his declare that the Authorities has crushed its goal of hiring extra GPs.
Mr Streeting claims that whereas the Authorities promised 1,000 new GPs by the top of March, he’s really achieved 1,503 by the identical deadline. Nonetheless the British Medical Affiliation say the true quantity is the equal of simply 850 full time new posts. Nick Robinson moved handed this row to ask Mr Streeting whether or not the variety of GPs per head of the inhabitants has elevated due to his new hiring drive, or whether or not the extent of immigration implies that it’s not making any distinction to the real-world expertise of Britons.
The BBC star identified: “The overall variety of medical doctors doesn’t matter. What issues is the quantity per head of inhabitants. Are you able to inform us [whether it’s increasing per head]?”
Mr Streeting squirmed as he couldn’t affirm the numbers.
He conceded: “After all per head issues, however that’s why rising the variety of GPs issues. I mentioned we’d recruit 1,000 GPs by the top of March, we’ve really recruited 1,500 by the top of March.
“The information you cited from the BMA is definitely barely outdated – it’s February information. It doesn’t have in mind information by the top of March, so we can have recruited 1,000 full-time equivalents.”
Mr Robinson repeated: “Are you aware the reply per head? I don’t, I’m not making an attempt to catch you out I simply marvel if you understand?”
Mr Streeting admitted: “Not off the highest of my head. After all there’s extra to do.”
He tried to maneuver the dialog on by itemizing his different achievements on ready lists, and reassuring voters that the federal government is assembly its guarantees on the NHS.
Nonetheless at this level the BBC interviewer jumped in to accuse the Well being Secretary of making an attempt to show the interview right into a propaganda broadcast for the Labour Occasion.
He slapped Mr Streeting down: “Forgive me however that is turning into a celebration election broadcast and I wish to ask you some questions!”
Mr Streeting hit again: “No it’s not, it’s reporting again to folks on what we’re really doing, and towards a backdrop of numerous cynicism it’s vital that we report again on what we’re really doing.”
Mr Robinson insisted he had not supposed to be impolite and conceded that Mr Streeting “has a job to do in reporting again on this and that’s completely honest.”
