THE NHS is regarded by many Northern Echo readers as one of Labour’s greatest achievements.

Set up by Nye Bevan in 1948, the health service has been described by policy experts as “the jewel in the crown of the post-war Welfare State’’ providing a universal service for all – free at the point of access.

Although the use of PFI (Private Finance Initiative) is sometimes seen as contentious, this did enable the last Labour Government to rebuild a large number of hospitals, including the brand new one in Bishop Auckland. It also helped to reduce long waiting lists in the late noughties.

Sadly, with creeping privatisation under the Conservative administration, waiting lists have lengthened, West Cumberland’s maternity services are to be downgraded and some of our accident and emergency departments are in ‘’crisis’’. Small wonder that health care is the number two issue according to the latest ICM Poll as we get closer to the Copeland by-election.

That’s why Labour is fully committed to maintain a well-funded health service should it be returned to power in an early General Election. The party’s policy position has been costed despite austerity and includes:

  • Long-term investment in the NHS; n 8,000 extra family doctors;
  • 5,000 more homeworkers giving them recognition for the hard work they do with patients;
  • 3,000 more midwives;
  • 20,000 additional nurses;
  • Safeguarding popular NHS walk-in centres, such as the one on Ponteland Rd, Cowgate;
  • Modernising GP services so that family doctors can provide a more flexible service.

As several of your older readers will recall, no one wants to go back to bad old days of the 1930s when ordinary people on low incomes had to pay to see a doctor.

Cllr Stephen Lambert, Health Committee member, Newcastle City Council, Margaret Murning, Senior health visitor, Newcastle.