NHS isn't even grasping the basics – Labour reforms doomed to fail without real change

NHS isn't even grasping the basics – Labour reforms doomed to fail without real changeOPINION - ROBERT FISK: It's all very well having decent ideas, but the key must be delivery. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments By Robert Fisk 06:00, Sat, Jun 6, 2026 The NHS is failing on the basics (Image: Getty)Clutching a handwritten note in a sealed envelope and riding the bus to A&E, I felt a lot like an owl delivering letters from Hogwarts. I don't know what the note said, but it probably said something like the "Please look after this bear" instruction around Paddington's neck when he was found at Paddington Station. It must have done because my GP gave it to me after an appointment that lasted around 45 minutes. I had discussed my symptoms with a student doctor and then with my GP, and it was decided I needed to go to A&E. I was in hospital for two days and when I was discharged I was assured the hospital doctors would post a letter to my GP telling her what had happened. window.scriptsToLoad.push({url:'https://live.primis.tech/live/liveView.php?s=118222&vp_content=plembed3a6btjknzwqh&cbuster=%%CACHEBUSTER%%&playerApiId=v118222',triggeredBy:'tcfLoaded',delay:1500,containerId:'ovp-primis',title:"Primis player",beforeLoad:()=>{window.top.addEventListener('primisPlayerInit',e=>{try{if(e.detail&&e.detail.playerApiId==="v118222"){if(window.document.getElementsByClassName('jwplayer')[0]){e.detail.float('disable')}}}catch(e){}})},}) This was several years ago, long before I was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer. So now, in the present day, I'm pleased that the Government is planning to introduce a system so that healthcare providers, including hospitals and GPs, will be able to see all aspects of a patient's medical history on their computers instead of having to send letters back and forth. I'm a patient at five different NHS trusts so it makes sense. Article con...