The Northern Echo readers respond to Sajid Javid and how to subscribe

But Sajid Javid has said he won't allow the NHS to become 'overwhelmed'. 

So now we ask, 'Is this sustainable, Health Secretary?' 

Friday's The Northern Echo front page prompted a huge response from our readers on social media.  

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Graeme Bland said there's no excuse, "The NHS is slowly drowning and whilst previous governments have let it slide, the present incumbents of No.10 need to stop blaming what went before.

"They've been in charge for 11 years so excuses for lack of funding are becoming thin on the ground." 

Our Facebook follower Tracy Leech echoed the feeling felt by many in the north. "The North East is not important to politicians. It’s only south that matters!"

Julie Burnham wanted to know how GP's are helping. "The hospitals or A&E etc are run off their feet partly because doctor’s surgeries are sending patients straight to walk-in centres, WHY? Where are our own doctors what are they doing?"

Read more: Hospitals under pressure as County Durham Covid rates rise

On Twitter, Human Finance Director and CFO Alastair Thomson said: "Great reporting from The Northern Echo... Government ministers are either lying or in denial...neither is a good place for them to be..." 

Tom Davies left a glowing review of our front page stating: "The Northern Echo doing some belting front pages lately. This is what regional media is for." 

We received praise for holding our Government to account - it's what we do, and we're proud of this and our incredibly talented teams. 

The Northern Echo editor Karl Holbrook said: “This is another fine example of The Northern Echo standing up to the official line and interrogating it.

"The reality is that there is a huge disconnect between what we are being told and what is happening on our wards. I’m proud of my talented, determined team for exposing this.”

To continue delivering the quality journalism our readers deserve, we need support. 

To support local journalism subscribe to The Northern Echo HERE 

Karl explains: “To invest in quality, independent journalism we urge our readers to subscribe. Every subscriber helps to fund this sort of journalism that our communities desperately need.”

For less than £2 per week, you'll receive a premium subscription, which will give you access to all of our in-depth interviews, long-reads and features, that are only available to a premium subscriber. 

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