Rise of a penny suggested to invest £6bn in NHS service
A leading Liberal Democrat has called for the Government to reform the NHS and save its future from further crisis.
Norman Lamb, a former Minister for Health and Social Care and now chairman of Parliament’s Science and Technology Committee, has been in Sunderland as part of his work to lead a change in the service. He says he wants to see the NHS and care system merged and a 1p increase in income tax to raise an extra £6billion a year which would be invested into health and social support.
His party is also leading calls to start a cross-party process to develop a longterm, sustainable financial settlement.
Mr Lamb said: “We will keep trying to increase the pressure and get support from people for the NHS.
“When we ask the public the question whether they support an increase in tax to pay for an increase in funding, they do support that.
The MP has said Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s apology over delayed operations due to pressures on the NHS will be little comfort to people who are facing a delay.
He added: “There is no doubt that patients will die and families will suffer because of the impossible pressure the NHS is being put under.
“Tragically this crisis was wholly predictable and preventable.
“People will rightly be infuriated that the Government has refused to put in enough resources to stave off another winter crisis.
“We cannot allow the NHS to keep going from crisis to crisis in this way.”