Responding to comments by the shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting that the NHS needs reform and efficiency savings, not extra money, Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party, said:
“Labour’s fiscal rules are clearly bad for your health. Blaming the Health Service’s ills on inefficiencies rather than on chronic underfunding is an insult to thousands of dedicated and hardworking staff who are underpaid and struggle because they are under-resourced.
“The Green Party would restore the public health budget by increasing spending by £1.4 billion and immediately increase NHS spending by £8 billion, to ensure NHS staff can be paid decently. Reforms to the tax system – including through changes to Capital Gains Tax, National Insurance and the abolition of “non dom status” – could raise the billions needed to properly invest in our health services.
“Successive governments have pointed the finger of blame at ‘inefficiencies.’ It’s regrettable to see Wes Streeting treading this well-worn path rather than pledging to increase funding for the NHS which is so desperately needed.”
