News / Politics
Denyer: ‘Labour is fiddling while our NHS burns’
Carla Denyer has accused the Labour Party of “fiddling while our NHS burns”.
The Green Party co-leader and candidate for Bristol Central at the general election was responding to Labour’s plans to use part of the NHS budget to buy beds in care homes.
Shadow health secretary, Wes Streeting, said this would free up thousands of hospital beds occupied by patients whose discharge has been delayed.
is needed now More than ever
Responding to Labour’s announcement, Denyer said: “Labour is fiddling while our NHS burns.
“This rehashed plan barely touches the edges of the scale of investment needed.
“They’re correct to say that we need proper investment in social care to relieve the pressure on the NHS.
“But they are offering no honest solution to how they would tax people more to pay for the changes needed.
“Simply expecting NHS trusts to cough up more money when budgets are already overstretched isn’t a solution.”
The Children’s Hospital is just one of several hospitals within Bristol Central – photo: Simon Boddy
Denyer added: “Years of underfunding have left over 400,000 people awaiting care and created 150,000 staff vacancies.
“Our Green social care investment plan of £20bn will restore dignity by guaranteeing everyone free personal care in their home, massively reducing the number of people ending up in hospital in the first place.
“Only the Greens are being honest about the huge investment needed to fix 14 years of Conservative failure.”
Main photo: Jon Craig
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