The term “innovation” must be one of the most misused terms in the media. It simply means a different way of doing things, such as a product or a service, whose popularity and effectiveness ultimately govern its success.

And yet the term has been strikingly bastardised to be used in conjunction with a whole plethora of memes such as “ageing”, “technology” and “unsustainable”. The right wing has been consistently ‘on message’ in this script.

Ed Miliband in Manchester gave last night what was a perfectly plausible speech on the NHS last night. Excerpts of it have indeed been posted on our blog. And there was the usual ‘red meat’, to be accompanied at some later date by how realistic the costings are.

But the legitimate concern of voters, whether hardworking or not, is he who pays the piper calls the tune. It may not be the frontline staff with whom Ed Miliband had photo opportunities earlier this week.

Fifty shades of government, apart from green, have been obsessed with inflicting ‘transformative’ changes, perhaps ‘charismatic’ visions, without ever consulting the wider population. Examples include the private finance initiative, or ratcheting up the NHS into a competitive market.

But Nigel Farage, whether or not he is ‘establishment’, has struck a chord with some voters. I don’t mean with his allegedly racist twangs, but I mean his ‘trust the voter’ skit. He bangs on about the referendum which he knows will never see the light of day.

Labour’s argument for why the NHS needs private companies working for it remains unconvincing with many voters. That’s why the National Health Action Party or the Green Party are watched so keenly by many.

The argument is possibly not as complicated as that justifying our membership of the European Union, but it is one which is best left to the voters to justify.

Labour in pursuing its ‘35% strategy’, where it can squeeze into office on the back of disaffected Liberal Democrat voters, is by definition risk averse. But with taking low risks the return can be very low. Labour’s lack of “blockbuster” is potentially alarming.

And many of the arguments can be discussed under the assumption that GPs work for the NHS. The BMA’s “#YourGPcares” campaign is calling for long-term, sustainable investment in general practice now to attract, retain and expand the number of GP, expand the number of practice staff, and improve premises that GP services are provided from.

The pitch for state ownership is pretty basic. Ed Miliband MP, Leader of the Labour Party, yesterday Labour’s new GP guarantee as part of the next government’s plan to improve services for patients, ease the pressure on hospitals, and restore the right values to the heart of the NHS.

Speaking in Manchester, he underlined his determination to put the health service at the centre of Labour’s campaign over the next year, beginning with these local and European elections.

But it feels as if Ed Miliband is making a meal lacking the key ingredients.

Andy Burnham MP’s ‘NHS preferred provider’ is conspicuous by its absence in the speech.

Only once Ed Miliband has slain this dragon, he can be given to talk about how primary care is best delivered. Labour is aware of its history of “polyclinics” first proposed by Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham in his review of healthcare in London for NHS London “Healthcare for London: A Framework for Action”.

The Labour Government at the time argued that this was a way of providing more services in the community closer to home and at more convenient times (including antenatal and postnatal care, healthy living information, community mental health services, community care, and social care and specialist advice).

Ed Miliband seems to care about ‘privatisation of the NHS’, in that he cared to mention ‘ending’ it.

But this is again at odds with what Simon Stevens has been thinking about.

A “Free School” is a type of Academy, a State-funded school, which is free to attend, but which is not controlled by a Local Authority.
Like other types of academy, Free Schools are governed by non-profit charitable trusts that sign funding agreements with the Secretary of State.

Supporters of Free Schools, such as the Conservative Party, including that they will “create more local competition and drive-up standards” They also feel they will allow parents to have more choice in the type of education their child receives, much like parents who send their children to independent schools do.

But Ed Miliband also talking about ‘ending competition’ which is somewhat against the mood music Simon Stevens was singing in his appearance against the Commons Select Committee.

It’s innovative bringing something back into state control, but could make good ‘business sense’, akin to insourcing a service which had been previously outsourced.

The main arguments for state control and ownership of the NHS are that such a drive would encourage co-operation, collaboration, equity; services could be properly planned not fragmented; and services would not be run for shareholder dividends.

It’s undoubtedly true that there could be operational changes to be made, such that patients could plan their GP appointments without having to ring up as an emergency at 8.30am the same day.

NHS GPs overall say that they are working flat out, and, short of having greater resources, no political gimmick will help them. Instead of lame slogans such as “Hardworking Britain Better Off”, and making do with “35%”, Labour could do something really innovative – and return to a socialist approach.

‘Saving the NHS for the public good’, on the other hand, is not a vacuous gimmick. It’s what many people in Labour also believe, possibly. More importantly, it’s the title of a current party election brodcast by the Green Party. It might be the case that Ed Miliband is left wing than the Labour Party membership. This has been mooted here. If so, “bring it on!”