To ask what concerns you have over NHS RE voting

[workingfromhomerules]

Just that. I would appreciate views on what problems voting conservative would mean to the NHS and why Labour are deemed the safer often RE the NHS.

I am asking for a family member who works for the NHS.

[grins]

My view is that the NHS is doomed in its current structure. It's not just a money problem, more a demand / structure problem. Gobbolino and Cinderella are spot on.

The truth is that no party is being candid about the issues as there are no votes in that. Labour bangs on about being the guardians of the NHS because a) voters care about it and b) they have a lead in opinion there.

Fundamentally, the NHS needs to evolve significantly from the service that was set up 70 years ago and this will require huge structural change. Like anything that requires big change, there are lots of voices against this change. But medical practice has changed enormously in that time and the NHS structures need to evolve too.

[nickelbeingnormal]

I agree with Captain too
It needs a long-term, cross-party strategy.

Something which I know labour would be willing to put into places - tories are too far gone with the rip apart and destroy policy to change it now

[Theworldisfullofidiots]

We need to have an honest and candid discussion as a society about what we can and are willing to pay for. It's a very difficult question, with difficult answers.
We need to stop simultaneously slagging off the NHS (too many managers when they have less than any other industry) and at the same time treating as if it is blasphemy to change anything.
It is complicated and we need to have some difficult discussions.
For instance I was told the other day about a 90 year old having a hip replacement, at first I thought waste of money and then I thought but they might be a sprightly 90 year old with decades of life expectancy.....difficult complex discussions....

[workingfromhomerules]

I agree it needs looking at. What a job to have to sort the NHS out!

BTW my brother voted conservative in the end.

[Believeitornot]

I wouldn't pay too much attention to manifestos because they're just propaganda really.

The honest reality is that the Tories wish to have a smaller state. They will pretend that they've pumped money into the NHS but the reality is that it has not kept apace with demand. They've also held down the pay of nurses and made it even harder to become a nurse, by introducing loans for trainees.

They will say that they want a strong and stable economy, but history shows that actually the Tories aren't particularly good at managing the economy. Unless anyone can point me to hard evidence to show differently without blaming labour or pointing to the labour record.

[BillSykesDog]

I wouldn't pay too much attention to manifestos because they're just propaganda really.

If something is in a manifesto they have a mandate. And they do generally implement manifesto policies. Some info here:

consoc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/COSJ2086_Mandates_and_Coalitions_06.14_WEB-1.pdf

[Headofthehive55]

I work in the nhs and agree with those upthread who say it's nit always about money.
My then disabled daughter when labour was in power suffered due to the poor care. I wasn't even given the appropriate equipment to feed her. It was only when the "service" was contracted to a private company we actually had a service.