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Doctors set up new party to fight election on NHS | Doctors set up new party to fight election on NHS |
(about 5 hours later) | |
By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News | By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News |
Doctors who are launching a new political party are promising to make the NHS one of the key issues at the next election. | Doctors who are launching a new political party are promising to make the NHS one of the key issues at the next election. |
National Health Action has been set up by medics unhappy at the growing role of the private sector in the health service in England. | |
The party said it wants to field about 50 candidates at the next election. | |
These will include people to stand against David Cameron, George Osborne and ex-health secretary Andrew Lansley. | |
But as well as targeting high-profile politicians, the new party will also look to contest seats it believes are winnable. | |
It is being co-led by Dr Richard Taylor, who won a West Midlands seat in the 2001 election over the closure of Kidderminster Hospital's A&E unit. | |
'Cherry-picking' | |
Dr Clive Peedell, the party's other co-leader and a consultant oncologist from North Yorkshire, believes private health firms will undermine NHS services by cherry-picking the care they provide. | |
"The NHS is being set up to fail. We will see increasing waiting lists and a rising number of people taking out private insurance." | "The NHS is being set up to fail. We will see increasing waiting lists and a rising number of people taking out private insurance." |
He said the party was not just anti the coalition as it would also consider targeting Labour MPs who had been pro-private sector. | |
But Prof John Curtice, professor of politics at the Strathclyde University, said he had doubts about what impact the party could ha+ve. | |
"Candidates can make hay with the NHS, as the Kidderminster example showed. | "Candidates can make hay with the NHS, as the Kidderminster example showed. |
"But the challenge the new party will face is whether they can link the reforms to something that really resonates with voters such as hospital closures or waiting times." | "But the challenge the new party will face is whether they can link the reforms to something that really resonates with voters such as hospital closures or waiting times." |
Prof Curtice added: "At the moment - despite the problems the government got into with its reforms - satisfaction with the NHS is still quite high, especially when you compare it to the 1990s. | Prof Curtice added: "At the moment - despite the problems the government got into with its reforms - satisfaction with the NHS is still quite high, especially when you compare it to the 1990s. |
"And if the NHS is going to be an issue they may find it helps Labour rather than them." | "And if the NHS is going to be an issue they may find it helps Labour rather than them." |
A Department of Health spokesman said: "There is no reason for this party to exist. | |
"The founding principles of the NHS are not only being protected by this government, but enhanced and extended." | |
Are you a doctor? What are your views on National Health Action? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you a doctor? What are your views on National Health Action? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |