LONDON – When the National Health Service was formed 75 years ago, it quickly became the envy of the world as one of the most comprehensive public healthcare systems, providing free, high quality universal care.
Cooper said that the UK population is getting older and sicker, and that the NHS has become a “national treatment centre” rather than a health service, because the “hollowing out” community services, such as GP clinics, dentists, pharmacies, mental health services, and social care, “means that everybody ends up in A&E”.
Cooper said that the Liberal Democrats have already pledged to recruit 8000 more full-time general practitioners, “fix the dental access crisis”, review the pharmacy funding model, and progressively reverse cuts to public health budgets. They will, she said, also create community mental health hubs for children and young people, and provide regular check-ups for at-risk adults.
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said if the Labour Party wins the election, it will need to work with healthcare professionals, not only to cut waiting lists, but also to achieve the bigger aim of “building a healthier and happier country” by tackling its growing health inequalities.