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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 NewsBy 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 will be unveiled at an event on Thursday in Westminster. 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 has been set up by doctors 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.
But the Department of Health says there is "no reason" for National Health Action to exist. These will include people to stand against David Cameron, George Osborne and ex-health secretary Andrew Lansley.
It is aiming to put up 50 candidates in the 2015 election, claiming the NHS is being "set up to fail". But as well as targeting high-profile politicians, the new party will also look to contest seats it believes are winnable.
At the launch event, the party will announce a number of the seats it will contest. 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.
These are expected to include those of David Cameron and Andrew Lansley, the former health secretary who was the architect of the controversial reforms which will kick in next year. 'Cherry-picking'
Under the reforms, two tiers of the NHS are being abolished and GP-led groups are being given control of much of the budget. 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.
Winnable seats
But it is the growing role the private sector is getting that has angered the doctors behind NHA, one of whom is Dr Richard Taylor, who won a West Midlands seat in the 2001 election over the closure of a local A&E unit.
Party co-leader Dr Clive Peedell, 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."
But the government has argued that increasing competition will improve standards of care for patients, while making the NHS more efficient. He said the party was not just anti the coalition as it would also consider targeting Labour MPs who had been pro-private sector.
As well as targeting high-profile politicians, the new party will also look to contest seats it believes are winnable. But Prof John Curtice, professor of politics at the Strathclyde University, said he had doubts about what impact the party could ha+ve.
"Of course we would like to get some MPs in, perhaps get someone on the health select committee, but we also want to raise awareness about what is happening so that is why we are going for some of the big names," Dr Peedell, who is also a leading member of the British Medical Association, added.
He also said the party had not ruled out 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 have.
"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."
However, a Department of Health spokesman said: "There is no reason for this party to exist. 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." "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.