Bristol East prospective Lib Dem MP backs residents in their call to save the NHS

2.21.00pm GMT Thu 7th Jan 2010

Mike Popham, prospective MP says "I'm backing residents wanting more from their NHS. The Lib Dems will bring a fresh approach to the health service in 3 steps; we will:

· stop the cuts

· cut the waste

· give back the NHS to the people

Labour is obsessed with centralising the NHS. This has led to inefficiencies in frontline services. Whilst Gordon Brown squanders billions on a new computer system, maternity and A&E departments are being closed across the country".

Mike is also concerned about the state of mental health services. He says "people don't just have physical needs. Mental health is just as important, especially during a recession when people have been hit hard emotionally by financial and housing crises. One in four will be touched by mental health at some point in their lives. Lib Dems are fighting to address the inequality between mental and physical health. We want to see better patient choice and easier access to psychological services".

David Cameron faced a revolt by his own MPs over his flagship policy to raise National Health Service spending by a level above inflation each year. Two-thirds of Tory backbenchers oppose his plan to exempt healthcare from any spending cuts that an incoming Conservative Government would make to tackle the "black hole" in the public finances.

"Efficiencies should be left to the Lib Dems, because Labour has failed and the Tories are split!", Mike said. Parking charges at hospitals need to end. Mike wants to see charges scrapped for the chronically ill who need to make repeat visits. Mike says "last year NHS hospitals made £110 million from these charges. I understand our hospitals need to balance the books. But in places like Bristol, where there are regular budget deficits, then I do wonder whether these charges are being used as a sticky plaster over the financial black holes. Patients with long term conditions are being penalised for being ill. It's unfair. It needs to stop".

Links:

http://www.libdems.org.uk/health_detail.aspx?title=Liberal_Democrats_back_plans_for_equality_and_fairness_in_mental_health_care&pPK=f65458bf-bb1a-476a-b0fb-d11939ed4066

http://www.libdems.org.uk/our_campaigns_detail.aspx?title=SOS_for_the_NHS&pPK=330765d0-f56d-4f24-a2a2-82c10b63ccad

http://www.libdems.org.uk/news_detail.aspx?title=NHS_hospitals_made_%c2%a3110m_in_car_park_charges_says_Norman_Lamb&pPK=57d9b94a-c8b1-4c63-ae12-bcd44cbdc7a9