Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid clashed with Health Minister Stephen Kinnock on the current issue with staffing within the NHS.
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Susanna Reid clashed with Stephen Kinnock (Image: ITV)

Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid clashed with  Health Minister Stephen Kinnock on the current issue with staffing within the NHS.

The UK government launched a major consultation on the future of the NHS on Monday (October 21), promising to put patients and staff at the heart of its 10-year health plan.

The consultation is part of the government’s plans to transform the NHS into a “neighbourhood health service”, shifting more care from hospitals to communities.

During Monday’s instalment of Good Morning Britain, Kinnock explained the problems the NHS is currently having, with people not applying to work there due to frustrations within the system and being forced under too much pressure.

With seven million people on the NHS waiting list and too many leaving the country to work elsewhere, Kinnock explained the importance of investment and reform.

Susanna probed the politician on whether the government will introduce fines for missing GP appointments (Image: ITV)

Richard Madeley probed the politician on the government wanting to shift more care from hospitals to people. Kinnock explained how those with type 2 diabetes visit their GP every month for glucose checks, which he claims could be done at home with wearable tech.

Susanna chimed in: “Asking people to pay money if they’ve missed an appointment. It costs the NHS a billion or more when people don’t turn up for appointments so if you put in a nominal fine, would that make people think again about wasting time?”

Kinnock responded: “We have absolutely no plans to introduce fines,” as Susanna interjected: “Are you ruling that out all together then?”

The Labour MP said that claim has been “massively overly interpreted” the Health Secretary’s comments, adding: “We have absolutely no plans to fine people for missing appointments.”

Kinnock insisted these fines will not be introduced under the Labour government (Image: ITV

Susanna added: “The only problem is, as you’re aware, there’s a grammar in these interviews where government ministers say, ‘We have no plan’. But in the future we might have a plan.

“It’s not until a government minister says, ‘We will never do that’, that journalists accept it’s not going to happen.”

“It’s up to journalists to hear whatever they want to hear,” Kinnock began as Susanna quipped: “To be honest, we hear it on behalf of our viewers.”

The politician hit back: “Yep and you’re very welcome to do that. You play a vitally important role in our democracy in doing so, and well done for that.”

After he insisted these fines will not be introduced under the Labour government, Susanna responded: “That’s about as clear as a government minister can be.”