Report comment

I have worked with the former SoS and let it be known, I was not a fan.

Not a fan because of his well known shortcoming in regard to listening...to anyone, perhaps save a few trusted GPs in his constituency. This was ultimately his undoing. Not his reforms, though disliked in many quarters and misunderstood in many more. Not his reforms that focused on 'outcomes' not processes and seeked to put patients at the centre of the NHS. Both worthy and necessary. He failed because he couldnt communicate; couldnt sell the dream.

So, now we have a new SoS with nowhere near the depth of knowledge of AL and I suspect nowhere near the level of personal commitment to making the NHS 'better', but the PM thinks he is a better salesman. More photogenic; more smiley? Fluff not substance I contend...think back to his Minister for Murdoch portfolio.

Whether AL was right or not, he had personal strength of character. This is a quality vital in all leaders. Think of the best and worst bosses you have had. Dont confuse 'best' with the guy that wanted to be your chum; that let you leave early to watch a soccer match on TV; that routinely gave you a good appraisal even though you knew your performance was at best average. No, think of courage, commitment, integrity. I didnt like AL, but I respected him. From the little I know of the new SoS, I am sure people will think him approachable with a nice smile and he speaks Japanese, always an impressive trick. But shall we respect him in the morning? I suspect not.

Mark me well, on these pages in 6 months time people shall be saying, AL wasnt so bad after all....