like a third g it feels like a third world country but in this international comparisons, when you look at the nhs, it tends to rank in the bottom third internationally. if we are to fix this problem we need honest and serious conversations about the nhs. if you are to continue to have a system that is fundamentally based on rationing, that's not really what they do in the rest of europe, you will run into crucial situations where 50,000 people will be denied operations that are crucial, a lot of these people who are needing hip or knee operations are in a lot of pain. weir there are some specific things going on here. people are taking taxis increasingly to hospitals, they will have two ban the rules on mixed sex roles, that is what people like because of the pressure on the nhs, there's always a winter crisis, it doesn't make it any less serious, the fact we get it every year, and it doesn't seem to be getting better. it would be wonderful if we didn't have a crisis, looking at

europe, germany, switzerland, we aren't getting the same stories from these countries because the hospital systems operate better for patients. poor doctors in a&e have to put them in quarters, what a horrible situation for them. it is difficult for the nhs, managers and officials for the nhs, managers and officials for many years have been saying that they are not getting the funding that they need. does there need to bea that they need. does there need to be a more radical thought process going into how you deal with the nhs and fund it? the funding matters, for a number of coalition years there was a funding freeze. and it is kicking in. i'm sure that as part of what we are seeing now. although the freeze has ended, what we are seeing coming through as a result of those decisions. funding has increased but at a different proportion. i'm open—minded about where we want to make our decisions,

maybe we should cut grandstanding budgets but fundamentally, ranking in the bottom third internationally is not because you are a quid short but because you need to change demographics and look at the system asa demographics and look at the system as a whole. but there is a not residual respect and belief in that the nhs is a good thing. the polling figure is normally pretty high? people love the nhs for good reasons. it should be allowed to be criticised. but it doesn't stop criticism, that is key. i think it is extremely difficult to criticise the nhs, if you look at our politicians, they say it is the envy of the world, but then we have stories like this with patients getting hurt. the principle of the nhs is extremely important, free access at the point of use, and most

of europe has passed this. i'm not sure that it is right if we don't dare criticise the nhs. sure that it is right if we don't dare criticise the nhsi sure that it is right if we don't dare criticise the nhs. i think politicians are terrified to criticise it. they are the ones who will fundamentally change it. story from the express, four months and £16 million nhs rip—offs. shockingly they do not like foreigners in this! start the new year as you need to go on! they say women flock to britain, cheating the nhs out of £60 million by having their babies here. in my mind, so? i'm not going to begrudge a mother who comes into the country to have her baby for whatever reason. who comes into the country to have

her baby for whatever reasonm who comes into the country to have her baby for whatever reason. it may sound like a lot. at least 2631 in eligible foreigners had their babies here. the story was £1 billion being wasted every year due to missed appointments on the nhs. i think it is completely right that this reeks ofan anti—immigration is completely right that this reeks of an anti—immigration sentiment. £1 billion versus £16 billion, paying your taxes you would feel a bit resentful if someone came to take something for free —— resentful if someone came to take something forfree —— £16 million. but we have a record number of brits flying abroad to access health care. health tourism has its benefits.” would like to see a breakdown of these numbers. brits go abroad and have their operations, that would be on theirfront pages! have their operations, that would be on their front pages! there is a story and it is mostly about immigration and putting more into the system than they are taking out.

andy the financial times, tories looking beyond brexit, looking beyond the continent of europe! all the way the pacific rim. apparently that will be a big training block of eight, nine, 10,000 miles away? the transpacific partnership was big news last year, when donald trump famously pulled out of it. this initiative was led by barack 0bama, of all people. criticism from the left is a little hypocritical. there was a lot of bipartisan support before the rb lists took over and pulled the us out of the deal. a quote from barry gardiner, he said this could be helpful but it isn't the main event and i think that is true. obviously be priority for the uk is to get a good trade deal with the eu. this is one of the benefits of brexit, when we have these negotiations going through, we can

look beyond europe and that is a positive thing. in the financial times, it was a remained newspaper and still is. a little dig at the daily express earlier, maybe i am thinking too hard on this but is this the financial times saying they've had to go all the way to the pacific, isn't this a ridiculous situation? i don't think it is a bad story for the government. the government argument is by leaving the eu we can strike trade deals globally. whether it smacks of desperation, as tim farron the former labour leader says in the ft, or whether it is a good idea, it shows we can do trade deals everywhere and the trade minister's quotes, he isn't saying this is what we are going to focus on but this is pa rt of we are going to focus on but this is part of a package of things. it isn't a story that the government will be irritated about. it's a

narrative on what they want to say. depends on who the brexit secretary is! we do only have one at the moment... give it a week! i suspect the we... to bad