Lib Dem Manifesto on Health

Speech delivered on Wed 23rd May 2007

1. Free NHS from government meddling.

We will hack away the red tape and abolish the absurd targets set by government, and free frustrated health professionals from demoralising government meddling. Clinical decisions should be taken by health professionals and local investment will be determined by locally elected and accountable people who can be removed by local people if they get it wrong. Scrapping unnecessary centralised targets will mean that your local hospital will have the time and flexibility to put patients first, providing personalised care and cleaner hospitals and treating the sickest the quickest.

2. Quicker diagnosis.

Patients waiting for potentially life-saving cancer and heart diagnoses are facing long and unacceptable delays which could be prevented with better planning. When a GP believes you may have a serious illness, we will offer diagnosis by the quickest practical route, public or private, so the NHS can treat you more quickly. We will tackle the scandal of expensive scanners standing idle.

3. Cut unfair charges.

Charges hit the sick and the poor hardest. We will end charges for eye and dental checks which deter people from coming forward for testing. We will extend the range of long-term conditions which qualify for exemption from prescription charges following an independent review. Those towards the end of their lives deserve dignity. We will provide free personal care, as we have done in Scotland. Scrapping charges will mean that people with conditions such as dementia will no longer have to pay for help with feeding, dressing and washing.

4. Prevention as important as cure.

We will give people the information and opportunities to make healthy choices. We will give people more control over their health by developing a targeted health MoT with wider access to screening tests. We will give people control over their healthcare with personal care plans for people with long-term conditions. We will prioritise extending access to services for patients towards the end of their life