Your Election 15

UK General Election Coverage from Bournemouth University

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Snippets
  • Dorset
  • Features
  • Opinions
  • Analysis
  • Multimedia
  • Live
    • Your Election 15 rehearsal – Live blog
    • BBC leaders’ Question Time – Live blog
    • idebate – Live blog
    • BU Politics society Question Time – Live blog
    • Opposition leaders’ debate – Live blog
    • Leaders’ debate – Live blog
    • Official election 2015 campaign launches – Live Blog
  • Editors Blog
  • How to vote

NHS “withering away” under coalition

April 8, 2015 by Robyn Sirs-Davies Leave a Comment

Privatisation of the NHS began under Blair's government

Privatisation of the NHS began under Blair’s government, but will Cameron follow suit?

A letter from senior NHS doctors claims that the coalition government has “weakened and undermined” the NHS.

The letter, signed by 140 leading doctors, launched an attack on the “broken promises” and funding cuts made by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat government.

Signatories include the former chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, Dr Clare Gerada and the previous director of public health, Professor John Ashton.

One of the doctors’ biggest concerns was the issue of privatisation of the NHS.

The doctors argue that “privatisation not only threatens co-ordinated services but also jeopardises training of our future health care providers and medical research”.

The Tory’s 2012 Health and Social Care Act reassigned between £60-£80 billion of funding to clinical commissioning groups – a major point of access for private health companies.

Pushed through by Conservative former health secretary Andrew Lansley, the act marked the largest structural change in NHS history.

The bill was heavily criticised, and although glanced at in the Conservative manifesto, it was not mentioned in the 2010 elections, nor listed as part of the coalition agreement.

The Conservative party has hit out at the document, which comes only a week after a similar letter from 100 UK business leaders in support of the current government.

A spokesman for the party claimed that this is simply Miliband’s attempt to “weaponise” the NHS and undermine his competition.

Once again, the two main parties appeared locked in a game of “taint the opposition”, using the NHS and other key issues as pawns.

Voters feel they have been left to question the Conservative’s public health record, but many also wonder if Labour can be trusted when NHS privatisation began under Blair.

Filed Under: National, News Tagged With: cameron, conservative, letter, miliband, nhs

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Stories

Nigel Farage fails to secure Thanet South

May 8, 2015 By Steph Butcher Leave a Comment

UKIP leader Nigel Farage is expected to step down following his defeat in Thanet South. He had … [Read More...]

Ed Miliband resigns as Labour leader

May 8, 2015 By Emma Woodley Leave a Comment

Ed Miliband has announce his resignation after a crushing defeat for Labour at the polls during … [Read More...]

Ed Balls loses Morley and Outwood in a terrible night for Labour

May 8, 2015 By Jeffrey Buchanan Leave a Comment

Former Labour Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls has lost his seat in Morley and Outwood after a full … [Read More...]

Published on Wednesday, April 8th, 2015 at 6:24 pm

Last modified: Wednesday, April 8th, 2015 at 6:24 pm

Category: National, News.

Share

Share

About

Image of Bournemouth University logo

Your Election 15 a website run by students of Bournemouth University

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Popular

  • Jeremy Paxman Jeremy Paxman’s top 5 interviews
  • Last week he also endorsed Green candidate Caroline Lucas Russell Brand endorses Labour to ‘get the Conservatives out of government’
  • Tory Wikipedia pages defaced with pictures of Ed Miliband
  • Mid Dorset and North Poole: live radio debate
  • New Google map tips Cameron to win

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in