The NHS is costing us more and more each year and yet we are getting worse service than ever before. The rise in MRSA, the so-called superbug, exemplifies the problem. Our hospitals are being sold off to private companies who profit from our ill health and aspects of life that cause us to become ill are not being addressed.

Our Aims

The Green Party would:

• Focus research and funding on public health issues such as the effects of pollution and the benefits of exercise.
• Abolish charges such as those for prescriptions.
• Increase community based services and community health centres.
• Stop the transfer of NHS provision to private companies.
• Introduce an NHS tax to provide earmark funding.
• Make the NHS more accountable to local people.
• Legislate to protect those suffering mental health problems from discrimination where it may occur.

Addressing Your Concerns

• Are you going to restrict my choice of hospital?

No, we are not opposed to people being able to choose where they get their health care from. We want you to be able to feel proud of our local hospital and want to go there.

• Can I still use private healthcare?

Yes, we are not opposed to private health care. Our concern is over the privatisation of the NHS.

• What are you going to do about superbugs like MRSA and hospital cleanliness?

We are going to bring the hospital cleaners back into the NHS team. Our policy of reversing the privatisation of ancillary services should mean that financial pressures that have reduced standards of sanitation would be removed.

• What will you do about childhood obesity and asthma?

We will be promoting cycling and walking to school, as well working with schools to provide healthy meals, to help reduce the levels of obesity in children. Cycling and walking to school will also reduce pollution, which will help to combat childhood asthma.

• All this will cost money, how will you pay for it?

Improvements in the overall health of the population will reduce costs in the future but it will not contribute much in the short term. We will introduce an NHS tax to make the level of funding for the NHS transparent for all. We will be reducing the level of spending on defence to provide further funds for healthcare.

Learn More

More Information:
Health in the Manifesto for a Sustainable Society

Related Sections in the Manifesto for a Sustainable Society:
Disability
Drugs
Pollution