It’s fair to say that Labour have not enjoyed an easy first conference in power.

Stories about donations, a growing sense across Westminster that Labour can’t deliver reform on multiple fronts, and union disquiet over winter fuel payments all made for sombre mood music.

Changing the narrative

Labour tried to change the ‘things will get worse’ narrative, a welcome move.

But without a clear commitment to investing in services and the wider economy the negative tone will continue.

Conference didn’t provide that commitment, perhaps October’s Budget will give us hope.

Prime Minister Kier Starmer took to the stage on Tuesday, talking for an hour.

In a ranging speech, with a few nuggets of new legislation, he focused mainly on returning ‘service’ to Government.

There was little health policy from the PM, other than a commitment to a 10-year plan for the NHS.

The full text of his speech is here.

What next for NHS reform?

Ahead of Wednesday, there was more talk of the Government’s narrative undermining its policy agenda.

The BBC reported senior NHS sources as claiming performance and morale were at risk if politicians continue to use language like ‘broken’.

Like the PM, and the Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the Secretary of State for Health and Care stuck to his guns.

From the podium, however, Wes Streeting struck a more hopeful tone talking up the potential of the NHS.

Crack squads and a National Care Service

• Wes Streeting announced a ‘crack squad’ of clinicians supporting 20 hospitals with the highest local prevalence of people off work sick
• He also teased the first steps in the creation of a National Care Service

We will have to wait a while for meat on these policy bones.

Encouraging signs for digital health and care

Describing the Government’s ambitions for the NHS, Wes Streeting said: “We need a universal health service, free at the point of need – able to share data, partner with investors, and adopt new technologies at scale… a digital health service powered by cutting-edge technology.”

The text of his speech is here.

Use of digital and AI across Government

Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle, was interviewed on Politics Live at the beginning of the week.

He talked of the progress made in bringing digital services from across government into one ‘powerful unit’ called the Digital Unit at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

He also promised an AI Action Plan ‘in the coming weeks.’

DHC has long said digital tools and AI could revolutionise efficiency and productivity in the public sector, and not just in the NHS.

Speaking up for members

DHC is writing to the Government to request a meeting to talk about the important work of members and future reforms.