Lib Dems demand action from Labour to fix our NHS
“Where can I find an NHS dentist?” is a question often asked by many people in Portsmouth.
While there is a huge shortage across the country, Portsmouth is particularly badly affected. The new dentists’ contract brought in by the last Government was so badly set-up that many dentists stopped doing NHS work. A mobile NHS dentists’ surgery recently came to Portsmouth and performed hundreds of fillings and other dental procedures.
“This just shows what the demand is,” says Lib Dem councillor Matthew Winnington. “We really need this new government to step-up and provide the dentists local people need.”
While it is up to the government to ensure the NHS is properly funded to provide NHS dentists, Portsmouth’s Lib Dem councillors have asked the city council to see if there is any way it can step in to help with the issue.
People tell me they are no longer confident that they will be able to receive care when they need it
Lib Dem Charlie Murphy
Charlie Murphy, Parliamentary Spokesperson for Portsmouth Liberal Democrats said: “On local doorsteps, people tell me they are no longer confident that they will be able to receive care when they need it."
“Local health services are under immense pressure, and with staff vacancies and long waiting times, NHS staff are being overworked and underpaid. This is unfair.”
"People in Portsmouth are being let down by health services and this needs to change.”
Lib Dem Leader Sir Ed Davey has said that improving the NHS and properly funding the care sector is the most important issue for the Lib Dem MPs in the new Parliament. He has vowed to continue the campaign to put pressure on the new government to deliver better health services.
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Portsmouth GP crisis
A recent study by the Nuffield Trust showed there are 2483 patients for every one GP in the city. This is the worst ratio in England. Portsmouth Lib Dems have already written to the Health Minister asking for Portsmouth to get its fair share of GPs, some other places have double the number of GPs we do. Portsmouth Lib Dems have proposed to the Government that they change the rules and allow us as a city council to directly employ GPs. We have also demanded that Portsmouth become a pilot area to follow Wales and Scotland in allowing pharmacists to issue prescriptions this will be more convenient for many people and ease the pressure on existing GP appointments. Do you agree with our plan for more GPs in Portsmouth? If so, please sign below. We will use this to evidence to the Government that Portsmouth residents back our proposal, making it more likely they'll accept our proposals.