LIB DEMS -

I am a great believer in the NHS. I was born prematurely and the NHS saved my life. My mother has worked in the NHS for more than 30 years.

My family have, on many occasions, received the necessary care and help. As a student I studied healthcare accounting. I am distressed by the situation of our NHS.

Staff members talk about managers being unresponsive to the on-the-ground demands of the healthcare service and accounting practices ill-equipped for how a public service should operate.

Political meddling and lack of autonomy which means the needs of the people on-the-ground are as distant as possible to those who are making the decisions for how the NHS should be run.

Our A&Es are overwhelmed by people who want a more immediate answer to their health issues. And the desperately needed investigation to what has gone wrong at the Queen Elizabeth

University Hospital and Edinburgh’s new children hospital.

Medical students at university are one of the most likely to substance abuse and have mental health issues. Stress accounts for 30% of all the sickness absences in the NHS.

Our NHS is precious but it has severe structural failings. I do not believe more political tinkering is the answer.

There needs to be a concerted effort in an NHS Reformation. I would support a Royal Commission, or similar body, to examine how we can solve these structural issues, as a cross-party and long-term concern.

We need a solution that withstands political currents . If it doesn’t, the NHS will not survive.