Mahmud Henry Rogers- Protecting our National Health Service
The NHS is a public service that we need to support and protect as much as possible. That's why I'm delighted that Liberal Democrats have committed to increasing spending on our NHS funding by £8 billion a year by 2020, which is the funding the NHS needs to cope with our aging population.
I do not want to see the NHS privatised and I will always resist any attempts by other parties to do so. The NHS should always remain free and be based on patients' needs and not on their ability to pay.
Liberal Democrats in government have increased NHS spending in real terms every year in this parliament, introduced the first ever waiting time standards in mental health and worked hard to join up health and social care so people with long term conditions get the help they need to stay healthy. Under Liberal Democrat plans, by 2020, the NHS will have the money it needs. Joined-up care will be keeping people out of hospital who don't need to be there, and people with mental health problems will get help swiftly.
Locally, Bedford Liberal Democrats have been fighting hard to Save Bedford Hospital from NHS Commissioners' plans for a severe downgrade which could mean the end of Bedford Hospital as we know it. The proposals include the cutting or permanent loss of vital services such as A&E, paediatrics and maternity, and an option featuring 'no beds on site' at all. Please sign Mayor Dave's petition to help the campaign to Save Bedford Hospital.