During that time, we made good on two big commitments: introducing a reciprocal health agreement with the UK and embedding social prescribing. Both are important steps toward improving wellbeing — giving people more freedom, more support, and more choice in how they manage their health.
But one thing that hasn’t moved forward, and should, is the cost of GP appointments.
Research from CareWatch* showed that nearly half of respondents had delayed or skipped a GP visit because of the price. That’s a barrier to care, and it undermines everything we say about prevention and early intervention.
I don’t think cutting services is the answer, and I don’t think our community wants that either. But we do need to be grown-up about how we fund healthcare.
Costs will rise — that’s a fact. People are living longer, medical treatments are advancing, and inflation in the health sector outpaces almost everything else. So the goal isn’t to slash the budget, it’s to flatten the curve where we can, without compromising care.
Technology can help. Not to replace people, but to support them. Whether it’s digital triage, remote health monitoring, or AI-assisted care planning, the right tools can make a big difference. They can reduce admin time, support early intervention, and help stretched professionals focus on what only they can do. It’s not about novelty. It’s about making care more efficient, more responsive, and more sustainable.
And we need to think long-term. Right now, younger people are paying into a long-term care system that may not be there when they need it. That’s not sustainable, and it’s not something we can keep putting off. If we want to protect care for the future, we need to have a serious, honest conversation about how it’s funded — including whether those with significant assets should contribute more to their own care. Avoiding that conversation only leaves more people vulnerable later.
Healthcare shouldn’t be a luxury. It’s a right. But rights have to be protected, and that means doing the work now to make the system fit for the future.