20th April 2015
The coalition has brought about myriad changes to the structure of the NHS. Amidst the changes we have seen a sharp decline in the morale of both existing and newly-recruited GPs, prescription costs elevating, cuts in out-of-hours funding and numerous QOF points and related systems introduced, scrapped and reshaped. Some positive steps have also been made however, including the appointment of BMA chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul – an experienced GP putting first the needs of the profession – the repeal of ‘unrepresentative’ CQC risk banding systems, and the introduction of the PM’s Challenge Fund in October 2013; the government asked NHS England to lead the process of inviting practices to submit innovative bids and oversee the pilot schemes.
With the general election vote taking place on 7th May, healthcare professionals and patients must carefully consider their vote and its effects on the future of their NHS and general practice. The outline below sets out many of the parties’ key aims for the health sector over the next political term.
Labour Party NHS Manifesto 2015:
‘We will tackle long waits and staff shortages, and put patients first’
- The recruitment of 8,000 more GPs and 20,000 more nurses
- Investment paid for through Mansion Tax on properties worth over £2m
- Guaranteed GP appointments within 48 hours
- Guaranteed appointments for vital tests no longer than a week
- Stop the drive towards privatisation
- Integrate health and care services into a seamless system of whole-person care
- Single point of contact for vulnerable older people, the disabled and patients with complex needs
- The recruitment of 3,000 new midwives to provide personalised one-to-one care
- Tackle the marketing of unhealthy food for children
Liberal Democrat Party NHS Manifesto 2015:
‘Our NHS is our most treasured public service and it is safe in Liberal Democrat hands’
- Deliver £8bn for England’s NHS needs, with funding for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- £500m a year to transform mental health care with waiting time standards
- A package of support for carers including a £250 Carer’s Bonus every year
- Crack down on bad care with better pay and conditions for care staff
- Better GP access with more practices open for out-of-hours appointments, phone and Skype advice
- Patient Premium scheme for patients in disadvantaged areas
- ‘Joined up care’ to treat all problems equally and efficiently and take pressure away from hospitals
Conservative Party NHS Manifesto 2015:
‘Our National Health Service must be there for you throughout your life’
- Continue to increase spending on the NHS, supported by a strong economy, so the NHS stays free to use
- Spend at least an additional £8bn by 2020 above inflation to fund and support the NHS’s action plan
- Ensure patients can see a GP and receive hospital care seven days a week by 2020
- A guarantee that everyone over 75 will get a same-day appointment
- Integrate health and social care, through our Better Care Fund
- Lead the world in fighting cancer and finding a cure for dementia
UK Independence Party NHS Manifesto 2015:
‘UKIP believes in the NHS’
- Keep the NHS free at the point of delivery
- £3bn more invested in to NHS directed to frontline services
- Dementia funding £130m per year in line with what Alzheimer's Research UK estimates
- Licenses for management, just like doctors and nurses
- Abolish CQC inspections and have them taken up by the health board
- Encourage the use of evidence from whistleblowers and patients’ grievances.
- Merging health and social care is a priority to enable more joined up integrated patients management
- Elderly social care funded with £1bn per year
- Scrap tuition fees for medical students on a means-tested basis.
- Training nurses on wards and reinstate SENs (State Enrolled Nurses) to nurture home-grown talent
Scottish National Party NHS Manifesto 2015:
‘A Healthier Scotland’
- The delivery of fast treatment as close to home as possible
- Continuation of low waiting times thanks to the tireless efforts of NHS staff
- Reduce health inequalities and promote patient wellbeing
- Vote for an increase in health spending across the UK of £24bn by 2020
- Deliver a total increase to NHS Scotland’s budget of £2bn
- SNP MPs to vote against further privatisation of the NHS in England
- Back moves to restore the NHS to a fully public service
- Streamline the work of special health boards
- Integration between NHS 24 and the Scottish Ambulance Service
Bibliography:
- http://www.labour.org.uk/manifesto
- http://www.libdems.org.uk/health
- https://www.conservatives.com/manifesto