Reacting to Keir Starmer’s plans for the NHS in which he confirmed there will be greater use of the private sector to help reduce hospital waiting lists in England, co-leader of the Green Party, Adrian Ramsay MP, said:
“The Green Party has long argued for a shift towards community focused health provision, and this approach is welcome. However, Keir Starmer is now talking about a “new agreement” to expand the relationship between the NHS and the private healthcare sector. We need clarity on exactly what this means for the long term as we do not need more backdoor privatisation.
“It is vital that NHS capacity is built up, and that the promised Community Diagnostic Centres and surgical hubs are publicly run and GPs properly resourced to see their patients. We also need restored budgets for public health and clear long-term funding commitments for hospital trusts, so that they can better plan to deliver better care for us all.
“The Green Party has always proudly defended the NHS against creeping privatisation. We are committed to a fully public health service and to keeping the profit motive well away from our NHS.
“With an ageing population and ever greater demand, it is more important than ever that we restore NHS founding principles and champion services that are publicly delivered as well as publicly paid for.”