Responding to comments by the Shadow Heath Secretary saying that
under a Labour government investment in the NHS would be
dependent on reform and that there would be an increased role for
the private sector [1], co-leader of the Green Party,
, said:
"Wes Streeting says that if the NHS doesn't change, it will die.
But it is inadequate funding that has left our NHS in a poor
state of health, not lack of reform.
“Between 2010 and 2019 the UK had a lower level of capital
investment in health care and 18% lower average health spending
than 14 EU countries [2].
“So to say that the public is paying a heavy price for failure is
an insult to hard-working NHS staff, who are doing their level
best despite being overworked and underpaid. It is the failure to
invest adequately and pay staff properly that is at the root of
dissatisfaction with the NHS.
“The public agrees. They don't want endless reforms; neither do
they share the Conservative or Labour appetite for creeping
privatisation. They want the current model to work and to see the
NHS available to everyone free of charge and primarily funded
through taxes [3]. A tax on the super-rich billionaires and
multi-millionaires can provide the funds needed to fix our
cherished NHS.
“The Green Party has never had any truck with the profit motive
in health care and will continue to push for a fully publicly
funded NHS.”
ENDS
Notes
[1] Wes Streeting warns NHS that
there'll be no additional funding without 'major surgery' under
Labour | The Sun
[2] How does UK health spending
compare across Europe over the past decade? - The Health
Foundation
[3] Public satisfaction with the NHS
and social care in 2023 | Nuffield Trust
