Discuss - Health THe NHS - Private funding (in part or whole) of the NHS

Should some parts of the NHS be allowed to be privately funded by companies?

DUP Have 80% of domiciliary care provided by charities and other nonstatutory organisations by 2015, releasing savings extending to tens of millions of pounds per year

Green Party The Green Party has drawn up a bill that would restrict the role of commercial companies in the NHS. The party's website states, "The party would strictly oppose any NHS privatisation and the treatment of healthcare as a commercial activity. They would maintain a publicly funded, publicly provided health service free of charge. In addition, the Green Party would abolish prescription charges, reintroduce free eye tests and NHS dental treatment." Source: Green Party Manifesto

Labour 27 March 2015 - Labour leader Ed Miliband has said at the start of his election campaign that his party would cap the amount of profit private firms are able to make from the NHS in England, saying that he wants to ensure a 'proper' level of funding. Profit margins would be limited to 5% on contracts above £500,000. Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32083668

Plaid Cymru "No NHS privatisation." - Source: Plaid Cymru, http://www.partyof.wales/easy-read-manifesto/

Respect Party Opposition to PFI schemes; all privatised services to be brought back into the NHS.

SNP The Scottish National Party will be supporting this Private Members Bill in the House of Commons to prevent the back-door privatisation of the health service. While responsibility for the NHS in Scotland is devolved to the Scottish Parliament, any cuts to NHS funding in England have knock on implications for the Scottish block grant and result in cuts to the Scottish budget. Source: SNP http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2014/nov/snp-will-vote-prevent-nhs-privatisation

UKIP "UKIP is committed to an NHS that is free at the point of access and paid for out of taxation, full stop." - Nigel Farage. Although it has been speculated that UKIP had "longstanding support" for elements of the NHS to be privatised, Farage has said that the idea was rejected by the rest of the party.

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