December 1: The NHS and a legacy of debt

Even though the Chancellor promised an additional £3.8bn in his Autumn Statement as part of the Government’s obligation to finance the changes proposed by NHS chief Simon Stevens, this money will not become available until next April – too late for the area in question.

Furthermore, this expenditure is intended to help hospitals to provide improve care on a 24/7 basis; it is not supposed to be used on writing off longstanding debts or helping health organisations to plug the gaps in their own budgets. However there is little chance of the current situation being eased until the Government, and others, finds a way of addressing the debt issue – and assess whether York and North Yorkshire are receiving funding which is commensurate with the area’s requirements? Poor management can’t be the sole reason for financial difficulties occurring here on such a large scale, and with such frequency.

After all, it’s not the fault of the 1,100 low-paid staff at York Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust that they could now miss out on being paid the Living Wage next year because the NHS cannot afford the £900,000 that such an increase would cost.

Not only will this undermine staff morale – those unstinting individuals working tirelessly to support doctors and nurses should never be taken for granted – but it points to a growing disconnect between the Government’s pronouncements on health policy and the reality on the ground in Yorkshire where mental health hospitals, like Bootham Park in York, are having to be closed when care in this sphere is supposed to be a priority. Today’s NHS staff and patients should not be paying the price for previous mismanagement and funding decisions.

Changing climate: Prince Charles warns the world

THOUGH politicians, both here and overseas, are pre-occupied with the threat posed by the Islamic State in the wake of the Paris terror atrocity, this should not detract from the UN conference on climate change which began in the French capital with an address by Prince Charles.

A longstanding crusader on environmental matters, it is the belief of His Royal Highness that climate change is “the greatest threat” to humanity and the planned deliberations over the next fortnight “will decide the fate not only of those alive today, but also of generations yet unborn”. In Churchillian-like rhetoric, he declared: “Rarely in human history have so many people around the world placed their trust in so few.”

The Prince of Wales makes it sound so straight-forward. It is his belief that the planet can be put on “a low carbon path” by 2030 if just 1.7 per cent of global annual consumption is cut, and that it is a lack of political willpower which is to blame for the current crisis.

Really? Perhaps Prince Charles would like to tell this to all those steel workers who are losing their jobs because their industry has been compromised by green taxes and the emergence of countries like China that continue to pay “lip service” to the environment, and whose over-production has actually contributed to the global slump in steel prices.

For, unless international agreements are enforced, a sticking point at past climate change conferences, any commitments made by Britain are likely to be offset by those emerging economies who do not, for whatever reason, honour the agreed criteria. That’s the real dilemma.

Worthy winners: Yorkhsire’s sports personalities

THIS county’s proud reputation as the UK capital of sport is further highlighted by the fact that Jessica Ennis-Hill, Lizzie Armitstead and Kevin Sinfield have all made it on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist. No other region can boast such strength in depth and it speaks volumes that the effervescent Joe Root, the Sheffield-born cricket who inspired England’s Ashes success, did not even make the final cut.

Yet, while the competition for one of sport’s most cherished prizes has never been tougher, each of the Yorkshire triumvirate would be a worthy winner. Not only have they reached the pinnacle of their discipline, whether it be athletics, cycling or rugby league, but they have become respected role models because of their professionalism and desire to inspire future generations. Because of this, the public should use this one-off opportunity to show their appreciation for their local heroes whose feats will, without doubt, pass the test of time.