Commentary on health policy in Election Manifestos

Posted on 17 April 2015

The Conversation’s Manifesto Check brings academic expertise to bear on the political parties' key election pledges

SNP health pledges pose questions for the whole UK

Article by Karen Bloor in The Conversation

Posted on 22 April 2015

The Scottish National Party’s manifesto makes relatively few pledges on health. This is, of course, because policy on health care and the NHS in Scotland are devolved to the Scottish parliament, and are essentially none of Westminster’s business. Read on

The Greens have detailed plans for health, but can they afford them?

Article by Maria Goddard in The Conversation

Posted on 21 April 2015

The Green Party manifesto has the stated aim of creating a “national health society” and presents a picture in which employment, education, transport, housing, food and the environment all contribute towards the creation of a healthier and more equal society. Read on

Health tourism only costs as much as UKIP’s free parking pledge

Article by Richard Cookson in The Conversation

Posted on 17 April 2015

In essence, the UK Independence Party (UKIP) propose to solve the problems of the NHS by spending more money. The risk, of course, is that the NHS could swallow this extra money without delivering improved quality and outcomes for patients. UKIP do not explain how they will get value for money from this spending. Read on

Lib Dems offer detailed and coherent plans for health

Article by Andrew Street in The Conversation

Posted on 17 April 2015

The section on “building a healthier society” in the Liberal Democrat’s manifesto shares much in common with the manifestos already published by the other parties. But taken overall, the Lib Dems offer the most coherent set of plans to improve our health and wellbeing. Read on

Conservative claims about NHS waiting times and satisfaction don't stand up

Article by Andrew Street in The Conversation

Posted on 15 April 2015

The Conservatives recognise that the electorate is suspicious about their guardianship of the National Health Service. Prior to the last election, they promised that there would be "no top-down reorganisation of the NHS", only for Andrew Lansley to embark on a reorganisation of such scale that the NHS chief executive of the time described it as "so big you can see it from space". Read on

Labour tries to highlight party differences in familiar health manifesto

Article by Maria Goddard in The Conversation

Posted on 14 April 2015

The Labour manifesto refers to the NHS as "one of our great national institutions", and has the stated aim to "rescue our NHS", referring to the "wrong values" that the Conservatives have put at the heart of the NHS. Read on

Plaid Cymru wants more doctors, but do we need them?

Article by Andrew Street in The Conversation

Posted on 2 April 2015

Plaid Cymru’s plans imply greater expenditure on the NHS in Wales – notably on more doctors, for air ambulances, and for the “New Medicines and Treatments Fund”. The expenditure increase is unlikely to be offset entirely by their pledge to move “towards a paperless NHS that will save money and bureaucracy”. This means additional funding will have to come from elsewhere, if Plaid Cymru’s ambitions are to be realised. Read on

Has turning the NHS into a market cost £10 billion?

Article by Maria Goddard in The Conversation

Posted on 17 March 2015

It has been estimated that entrenching market structures in the NHS, for example through tendering, bidding and contracting to the private sector, costs over £10 billion a year. Read on