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Health Secretary heckled for skimping on the detail

(Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

Who pays up to £242 for a member ticket to the Conservative party conference only to disrupt its events? You’d have to ask the young man who heckled the health secretary during his Q&A at Monday’s Health and Care reception…

Barclay spent 15 minutes hinting at what the latest Tory plan to save the NHS might be – something Mr S understands he will discuss in more depth in his main speech on Tuesday. His focus was on technological innovation, getting patients seen faster and utilising other types of healthcare workers. Indeed, Barclay was particularly keen to emphasise a service that relied less on doctors, in a perhaps covert response to the BMA/government stand-off that has resulted in more than one million cancelled appointments.

But just as the Health Secretary was thanking the crowd, a voice from the back piped up: 

‘What about social care?’

‘Well, I’ve touched on social care,’ shrugged Barclay before attempting to return to his concluding statement. The questioner wasn’t satisfied, however. ‘You’ve not mentioned social care!’ the disruptor retorted – to murmurs in the packed out room.

Exasperated, the Health Secretary launched into a five minute segment on care in the community — apparently satisfying the heckler, who decided keeping quiet was better than being kicked out of the event.

A more important matter to consider, for some, was Rishi Sunak’s proposed smoking ban. Will it come to fruition? Barclay refused to comment on specifics, though admitted it was an issue that Sunak ‘has taken a deep interest in’.

Barclay spoke well, but he’’l be hoping for a better reception when he gives his conference speech today…

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Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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