November 28: Labour feuds as France mourns

Of course Mr Hunt will say that the Government listened to the public’s concerns, hence the additional money included in the Autumn Statement. However he needs to be reminded that this funding is for new staff so the NHS can operate more effectively on a 24/7 basis rather than problems associated so-called ‘bed-blocking’ – the inability of hospitals to discharge elderly patients because of shortcomings in community care, and which is exacerbating the may challenges facing A&E units.

With junior doctors braced for unprecedented strike action, and dozens of East Riding GPs accusing the Health Secretary of not listening, it pains The Yorkshire Post to have to repeat the conclusions of its editorial seven days ago on the NHS – Mr Hunt is living on borrowed time and is only being saved from further calls to resign by a weak Labour opposition. After all, who is the Shadow Health Secretary – and has anyone seen, or heard, from them? In case Labour has totally forgotten its responsibilities, effective governance is invariably linked to equally effective scrutiny.