Think how much better the NHS would be now if it had benefited from the same level of funding as comparative European countries throughout its history, with a stable structure, proper investment in infrastructure and public health, and a workforce plan decades ago. Instead, we’ve tried to get universal healthcare on the cheap and a succession of vainglorious health secretaries have treated it like a train set, taking it apart and putting it together again to no one’s benefit. Continuous re disorganisation has caused enormous harm. It’s time to stop the structural chaos and build a recovery plan around the needs of staff and patients, with a relentless focus on preventing ill health and preventing medical harm. I performing at Devizes tonight, then Bath, Bristol, Bridgwater and the Edinburgh fringe drphilhammond.com