Autumn Statement: Government allowing New Forest’s health service to crumble

Before the Autumn Statement, the Liberal Democrats had been calling for the Chancellor to invest in a robust NHS rescue plan as ever-growing treatment backlogs have stalled the economy, damaging both growth and quality of life. 

These measures would have included reversing Conservative cuts to vital public health services in the New Forest and delivering 8,000 more GPs across the country to create 65 million more appointments every year.

This lack of action comes after we consistently warned the Government that treatment backlogs are damaging economic growth. A poll commissioned by the Lib Dems showed that one in seven people had taken a significant length of time off work whilst waiting for treatment on the NHS.

Apart from ignoring the crisis in our health service, the Chancellor proposed tax changes that will not ‘touch the sides’ after years of unfair tax hikes that Desmond Swayne and Julian Lewis have consistently voted in favour of. 

Cllr Jack Davies, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for New Forest West, said:

“This Conservative Government seems content to sit back and let the New Forest’s local health services crumble. 

“They are either so out of touch that they cannot see how many people are struggling to access healthcare, or they simply do not care.

“The Autumn Statement was an opportunity to get people off NHS waiting lists and allow them to return to work so we can rescue our flatlining economy. 

“Instead we got empty promises, stale nonsense and a tax cut that’s not even a drop in the ocean compared to what people have already paid.”