Autumn Budget: NHS needs to be top priority to prevent winter crisis

EMBARGO: 00:01 Sunday 27th October 2024

Ahead of the Autumn Budget on Wednesday, the Liberal Democrats are calling for a rescue package for the NHS to prevent a winter crisis. 

Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said: 

“Years of neglect by the Conservative Government have left our health and care services at breaking point. Bringing our NHS and care back from the brink needs to be the number one priority in this Budget.

“Our NHS is already bracing itself for this year’s winter crisis, on top of the continuing pressures of long waiting lists, crumbling hospitals and a care system in crisis.

“It’s clear that a robust rescue package for the NHS is vital for economic growth - we simply cannot repair our economy without repairing our health services.

“In the Budget this week, we Liberal Democrats want to see a new fund to break the cycle of the annual winter crises, meaningful investment to overhaul crumbling NHS infrastructure and outdated equipment and the launch of cross-party talks to finally put social care on a sustainable footing.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

The Liberal Democrats proposed rescue plan for the NHS:

An increase in day-to-day NHS spending to:

• Increase the number of full-time equivalent GPs by 8,000.
• Boost cancer survival rates by investing in research and treatment, including radiotherapy machines, cancer nurses and the MHRA.
• Roll out 1,000 more staffed hospital beds and invest in A&E.
• Improve mental health services including mental health MOTs, talking therapies and walk-in hubs for young people.
• Bring more dentists back to the NHS from the private sector by fixing the broken NHS dental contract. 

A capital investment plan for hospitals and other NHS infrastructure to:

• Repair crumbling hospital buildings
• Invest in A&E and other hospital infrastructure to roll out 1,000 more hospital beds
• Purchase more radiography machines

Increasing the Public Health Grant to support local government in preventing serious health conditions.

Fixing social care by: Urgently launching cross-party talks, with the aim of introducing Free Personal Care based on the model introduced by the Liberal Democrats in government in Scotland in 2002, so that provision is based on need, not ability to pay.