Greens offer “game changing” investment plans to revive the NHS
Across the country one of the biggest issues, if not the biggest, is the state of the National Health Service. “Our NHS is at breaking point following 14 years of underfunding.” said Green Co-Leader Adrian Ramsey, “Patients are stuck in hospital corridors, people can’t see their GP or NHS dentist when they need to and staff are severely overstretched.
“Greens believe passionately in the NHS and we are the only party to be honest with the public that it’s going to cost money to nurse the NHS back to health after 14 years of Conservative damage.
“Not just by shifting a small pot around, but by asking the very richest in our society to pay a modest amount more in tax to fund the investment we need to nurse the NHS back to health.
“Our plans are credible, deliverable and fully funded.
“With the political will and a fairer, greener tax system we can offer real hope and real change for the NHS we all treasure.
“With more Greens in the next Parliament we will press the new government to take the action needed to restore our NHS.”
Heart breaking decline
Green Party Health, Social Care and Public Health spokesperson and GP, Pallavi Devulapalli added, “I’ve seen first-hand the impact years of underinvestment and managed decline has had on the NHS and the service received by the patients. “It breaks my heart when patients come into my surgery and I know they won’t get the care they need in a timely manner. “But it doesn’t have to be like this. “With the political will we can have an NHS that puts the patient first and ensures world beating quality of care. “But for this to happen we need the investment and that’s why I am so proud of The Green Party for being honest and brave enough to say not just what needs to happen, but how we can afford to make it happen. If you want real change and real hope in the NHS there is one party that is offering to make that a reality”Costed and funded
The full details of the funding for the plans will be presented in the Green Manifesto but speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme Adrian outlined the key ideas. Firstly a “modest”wealth tax aimed at millionaires and billionaires, second a windfall tax on the vast profits currently being made by fossil fuels corporations and thirdly a change to capital gains tax to bring the tax paid on earnings from assets in to line with the tax paid on earnings from work. The Greens estimate that these measures could bring in £50 billion by the end of the next parliament. Read the full press release HERE.