Liz Truss’s closest ally was speaking to LBC when her phone started playing Dr Dre’s hit Still Dre, featuring Snoop Dogg. “I just realized the alarm is going off on my phone – you’re getting a bit Dr Dre,” he laughed. “It’s just an 8am alarm clock, sorry.” LBC presenter Nick Ferrari also asked Ms Coffey about her habits and physical health, amid some criticism on social media about her suitability for her new role. “As someone who likes a cigar, likes the odd noggin, and let’s be honest, you and I could probably lose a pound or two… Are you the right person for the job?” asked the TV station. Ms. Coffey smiled and replied, “I appreciate that I may not be a role model … I’m sure the Chief Medical Officer and others will continue to be role models in that regard, and I’ll do my best as well.” Asked on BBC Breakfast about those who pointed out she was a smoker, Ms Coffey said: “I don’t look at social media. I’ve suffered all kinds of abuse for many years, I’m not worried.” Ms Coffey has made it clear that patients will not be charged for GP appointments – which was promised by Ms Truss’s campaign rival Rishi Sunak. “I’m not going to charge people to go and see their doctor,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Setting out her plans as health secretary, Ms Coffey said health and social care would be funded through general taxation, rather than the special 1.25 per cent National Insurance levy rise promised by previous chancellor Rishi Sunak. Sweet about the challenge of paying for health and social care without the guarantee of extra funds, Ms Coffey said: “We will continue to invest the same amount in health and social care as we would through the dam.” Asked about Mrs Truss’s plan to channel NHS funding into social care, Ms Coffey said: “People are clear that, within the system, there are people in hospital at the moment who don’t need to be in hospital, they need constant care. , but not necessarily in our acute hospitals.” “So making sure we’re helping patients get to the right place where they need to be will open up the opportunity and capacity for more people to be treated in our acute care hospitals.” He also hinted that he would push for the NHS to use the private healthcare sector to clear huge backlogs. “I think we just have to use every potential we can and we’re already using the independent sector,” he told LBC. Asked about the prospect of junior doctors striking over pay, Ms Coffey said: “I hope that, of course, people will continue to put patients first.” The new health minister, a Catholic, also insisted she would “not seek to overturn” abortion laws, amid concern from campaigners about her election result on the issue. Britain’s pregnancy advisory service said Ms Coffey – also appointed deputy prime minister – said she had a “deeply troubling” record on abortion rights. “I am aware that I voted against the abortion laws,” Ms Coffey told Sky News. “What I will say is that I am absolutely a democrat and that’s what happened. It’s not that I’m seeking to overturn some aspects of the abortion laws.”
