Back to the Future

According to one academic, the establishment today of seven new health authorities health boards in Wales, “probably signifies one of the biggest steps yet on the devolution journey”. Perhaps he should have also added that it represents an almost nostalgic return to the pre-Thatcherite days when health care provision was managed and dispensed by state sponsored monoliths which were staffed by nurses in familiar uniform colours, offered free visitor parking and where the only example of an ‘internal market’ was the weekend car-boot sale.

Despite the odd splash of cold water from the likes of Lib Dem Peter Black, it has been a politically successful transition from the post-Hutt era and one that has gained popular support. It has also been achieved over the dead bodies of a small battalion of senior clinicians – but then, who needs to stuff gold into mouths when you have the entire range of health unions singing your praises?

If devolution means having the ability to be different so that can actually make a difference then Mrs Hart has done the business. She has also done her socialist credentials no harm in the process and at a time when Labour in Wales needs to revisit its origins and rehearse the creed – but all that is purely coincidental, one assumes.

It may not be the kind of ‘irreversible change’ that used to make up the old-style socialist rhetoric but any future tory-dominated rainbow coalition with a mind to cut back on spending would find the task of dismantling what goes into effect today a hard if not potentially suicidal prospect.

Update: Far more potential for savings among the quangos. (Thanks to NS for the link).