Labour makes NHS central to 2015 election pledge
pharmafile | September 24, 2014 | News story | Sales and Marketing | 2015 election, Conservative, GPs, Labour, NHS, manifesto, nurses
The Labour Opposition party has set out its plans to ‘save and transform’ the NHS and has made this the key issue for its 2015 election manifesto.
Speaking at the political party’s conference in Manchester yesterday the Labour leader Ed Miliband says his government would provide for 20,000 more nurses, 8,000 more GPs, 5,000 more care workers and 3,000 more midwives by 2020 should it win the general election next May.
Miliband said this would be paid for by an extra £2.5 billion that will come from an increase on the so-called ‘mansion tax’ – as well as a tax evasion crackdown and a new levy on tobacco companies based on market share.
Breaking it down, £1.2 billion a year would be raised through a tax on houses worth more than £2 million, whilst the crackdown on tax loopholes used by hedge funds and other city firms is expected to raise £1.1 billion.
The plans to have tobacco firms contribute to the costs of treating smoking-related illnesses are expected to raise the least amount at around £150 million. But some are questioning just how much this money will help given that the health service is expected to be in a £30 billion deficit by 2020.
The need to both grow the economy whilst also making large savings across the health service is of paramount importance for any political party that wins next year.
The current Conservative chancellor of the exchequer, George Osborne, unsurprisingly did not have faith in the Labour leader’s plan, saying last night: “Ed Miliband didn’t mention the deficit once. Extraordinary. If you can’t fix the economy you can’t fund the NHS.”
More staff needed, but also more money
The British Medical Association, which represents doctors in the NHS, was more welcoming of Miliband’s commitment to provide 8,000 more GPs.
This comes at a time when primary health doctor levels are reaching some of the lowest levels in the NHS’s history, as more GPs are retiring with fewer younger doctors being trained to take their place.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the BMA’s GP Committee, says: “GPs care immensely about our patients, and feel dismayed by the constraints impacting on services and undermining our ability to do the best for them.
“The GP service is under unprecedented strain, and is unable to meet the needs of a growing ageing population and the increasing volume of care moving out of hospitals. GPs are working beyond their capacity, seeing a record 340 million patients every year, up by 40 million compared to 2008. Demand on GP services has far outstripped supply.
“A commitment of more GPs will be vital towards meeting the demands on general practice. However we must first address the challenge of getting more doctors to choose to become GPs at a time of falling recruitment and increasing numbers retiring early.”
Nagpaul adds: “With the NHS facing a perfect storm of rising demand and a £30 billion funding shortfall, patients and the public need to see a detailed, meaningful plan from politicians on how they will create a sustainable infrastructure and capacity in general practice to deliver on current and future needs.”
Ben Adams
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