15.11.12
New political party launched to ‘fight NHS privatisation’
Doctors are launching a new political party today to make the NHS a key issue at the next election. National Health Action has been set up by opponents to what they see as the increasing privatisation and fragmentation of the NHS.
The party will be launched at Westminster today and aims to put up 50 candidates in the 2015 election. The doctors will announce the seats they aim to contest, which are expected to include high-profile politicians associated with the NHS reforms, such as Prime Minister David Cameron and ex-health secretary Andrew Lansley.
The Department of Health has said there is “no need” for the party to even exist.
Dr Clive Peedell, co-leader of the NHA and consultant oncologist from Yorkshire, who is also a leading member of the British Medical Association, said: “The NHS is being set up to fail. We will see increasing waiting lists and a rising number of people taking out private insurance.
“Of course we would like to get some MPs in, perhaps get someone on the health select committee, but we also want to raise awareness about what is happening so that is why we are going for some of the big names.
“NHA will send a clear message to the public that the NHS will be increasingly dismantled and handed over to the corporate sector unless we fight to maintain it as a public service, dedicated to the public interest.”
Dr Louise Irvine, a GP in south east London, said: “The Government’s reforms reduce patients’ access to quality health services, turn GPs into healthcare rationers, increase bureaucracy and waste billions of pounds that could instead be used to fund vital health services.”
A Department of Health spokesman said: “There is no reason for this party to exist.
“The founding principles of the NHS are not only being protected by this Government, but enhanced and extended.”
(Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
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