Under general election manifesto commitments, the Labour Party, the Tories, and the Lib Dems are committed to “the tightest and most sustained NHS funding squeeze in recorded history”, according to the Nuffield Trust.
The three mainstream parties have refused to commit to fixing the NHS through adequately funding the Long Term Workforce Plan. And that’s a strategy without more private companies creaming off profits from a public service, as has been increasing under the Tories and in Labour’s plans.
The Nuffield Trust says funding the Long Term Workforce Plan would cost around an extra £20bn more than current commitments from Labour, the Tories, and the Lib Dems.
A lot more is possible. France spends £40bn (or 21%) more per person annually on public healthcare than the UK, with a lower GDP per person.
The Nuffield Trust writes:
the frugal spending commitments follow three years in which NHS England’s spending has either been cut in real terms, or held close to flat.
This means that, if any of the three parties’ pledges were implemented, the period 2022/23 to 2028/29 would see the tightest and most sustained NHS funding squeeze in recorded history (going back to 1979/80), resulting in annual real terms increases of just 0.4% under the Conservative pledges, 0.5% under the Labour pledges and 0.7% under the Liberal Democrat pledges: all below the most recent rate of population growth, even before adjusting for the increased health care need of an ageing population.
The Green Party, meanwhile, has committed to a total of £28bn in the next parliament for NHS spending. That’s alongside a £20bn cash injection for capital spending.
The Green Party manifesto also says:
Green MPs will… abolish wasteful competition within the NHS, re-establish public bodies and public accountability, and restrict the role of commercial companies.
It’s clear the establishment parties don’t deserve our vote this election.
Featured image via BBC News – YouTube
