Health
We must deliver the NHS promise which the current system is so obviously failing to provide. We need outstanding, integrated health care, with prompt treatment and great outcomes.
| The Peoples Party must: |
|---|
| introduce “a right to first class health care, free at the point of use” |
| abolish waiting lists, the “right” to health care means that excellent care must be offered when it is medically required, not in the distant future, when an appointment happens to be available |
| as part of the radical reform of taxation, establish a Health Tax to properly fund care, formally linking the cost of care with the level of the tax |
| change the NHS from the National Health Service to the National Health Scheme, putting it on a sustainable basis with the focus being on delivery of health rather than the treatment of sickness |
| expand and develop preventative care services and dramatically improve proactive health screening, investing in many more state-of-the-art scanners |
| establish partnerships with firms such as drug companies to incentivise early treatment and the use of AI technologies, paying them properly for drugs and skills they develop |
| introduce incentives including deductions from the Health Tax for healthy lifestyles |
| tackle the scourge of obesity by cross-subsidising healthy foods and by the active promotion of sport and exercise |
| learn from the best healthcare systems, increase survival rates so NHS outcomes are the best in the world |
| increase health care funding by at least 10% and establish competitive, non-profit health maintenance organisations (HMOs) to improve the accountability, efficiency, delivery and performance of health services. Providing transparency and choice are key to better services |
| tackle regional disparities, removing the postcode lottery of care |
| establish specialist hospitals to efficiently treat those conditions for which significant demand exists |
| establish surgical hubs for elective operations, making use of the most efficient and effective techniques |
| ensure the highest quality treatments, cost control and value for money through a legally empowered audit function |
| ensure the NHS covers the full cost of all treatments, including prescriptions, dental and eye care |
| dentistry must be accessible to all, with a priority on children’s dental hygiene |
| allow people to deduct the costs of private health insurance or treatment from their Health Tax |
| ensure a professional working culture for all healthcare staff; training, retaining and recruiting staff to ensure proper staffing levels are maintained |
| ensure an “open” learning culture, limit the scope of medical negligence claims |
| give every hospital and treatment centre responsibility for managing its affairs, staffing levels and use of resources |
| use innovative technology to transform care, ranging from virtual consultations to remote assistance in operations |
| increase the number of hospital beds/number of doctors and apply lessons from the best practices of the most successful health systems |
| ensure comprehensive follow-up care for patients once they have been discharged from hospital, with them receiving the contact details of the consultant responsible for their care |
| fund all social care and establish a proper career path for carers. Carers must be valued and rewarded for the challenging role they perform |
| embrace ways of improving the quality of life for those unable to care for themselves, including creating retirement campuses and villages |
| tackle the scourge of loneliness, among other initiatives using technology to assist those living alone |
| increase the focus on mental health care, and provide increased support for those suffering from and caring for dementia |
| address issues such as worthlessness by giving people focus through helping in schools, sport and community projects such as men’s sheds |
| give British citizens worldwide medical cover under the NHS |
| properly fund GPs, establish continuity of care with people routinely seeing the same doctor, require GP surgeries to open at weekends and provide 24/7 cover |
| preserve existing and create a new network of cottage hospitals |
| legalise assisted dying “dying with dignity” and create a new profession to help individuals take responsibility for “end of life issues” and to make decisions about their own death |
| establish that male and female sexes are decided at birth |
| forbid first-cousin marriage |
| encourage fee-paying foreign nationals to seek medical care in the UK |
The NHS is simply not good enough. Over seven million people waiting for treatment is utterly unacceptable and a national disgrace. Fundamental reform is needed to uphold the healthcare promise that people cherish.
On average women spend 20 years living with ill-health, men 15. This is a shocking figure. Not only does this outcome blight lives, managing ill-health is very expensive and is a significant drain on national productivity.
We must do all we can to significantly improve health, helping people live longer lives without major health issues. In transforming the NHS into the National Health Scheme, the emphasis should be on creating a plan that fundamentally enhances long-term health rather than merely addressing sickness. In any case, we should not have to “save” the NHS; instead, the NHS should exist to save us. The solutions are many and diverse, ranging from earlier diagnosis and treatment before health problems develop, to incentivising healthy lifestyles and exercise, and providing opportunities and hope so that people can live their best lives.
Obesity must be tackled head on. Being fat is bad, in ignoring the issue we are sleepwalking into a national disaster. Inducements to encourage people to take “ownership” of their bodies, eat better, drink responsibly, exercise, and not smoke must be at the heart of government policy.
Health provision must be properly funded and thoroughly reformed to ensure that people can access world-class care throughout their lives. Waiting lists, postcode rationing, unresponsive services, and the denial of drugs and treatment on cost grounds are unacceptable.
The ongoing neglect of social care is disgraceful. The system must be transformed for both those requiring and delivering care. Carers must be paid fairly for their vital work, with care homes fully funded. Hospital beds and treatments must not be blocked by those waiting for social care.