Ahead of the upcoming general election, the Advertiser asked readers to share questions they would like answering by candidates vying to become their next MP.
A key concern was the NHS — a qualified nurse shared concerns with the Advertiser about under funding, the struggle to get GP appointments, and long waiting lists to see specialists.
Sherwood Forest candidates were asked: “How do you propose to address issues with the NHS, both nationally and at a local level?”
Here are their responses, in alphabetical order.
David Paul Dobbie — Liberal Democrats
Local level — have local pharmacies and surgeries work together to build up services at local hospitals, primary treatment, X-rays, eye checks, etc like our local "Cottage Hospital".
When we had issues over our daughters birth and had to go to five different hospitals including City Hospital in Nottingham and Glenfield in Leicester for ECMO the treatment for her was second to none, but my partner had to resign into each administrative system (Lincs to Notts to Leics back to Notts then back to Lincs) in what is supposed to be a National Health Service and ended up with an infection to her caesarean scar.
Our NHS has a too complicated administrative system.
Helen Rose O'Hare — Reform UK
We must work towards zero waiting lists and health care must remain free at the point of use. We need critical reform. Reform UK will end the doctor and nurses shortages.
All frontline NHS and social care staff to pay zero basic rate tax for three years. This will help retain existing staff and attract many who have left to return. We will end training caps for all UK medical students. Write off student fees pro rata per year over 10 years of NHS service for all doctors, nurses and medical staff.
We will cut the waiting lists by offering tax relief of 20% on all private healthcare and insurance. Operating theatres must be open on weekends. Rotas must be planned further in advance. We will nail down better prices using economies of scale. We will review all NHS Private Finance Contracts for significant savings potential.
There is lots do but we have a bold plan with a common sense approach.
Mark Steven Spencer — Conservative
We have put record funding into the NHS; but I know the effects of covid has had a huge impact and we need to continue the work to clear waiting lists and get people the treatment they need. With our plan there will be 28,000 more doctors and 92,000 nurses by the end of the next parliament. We have new diagnostic centres opening locally to create more capacity and we have been empowering pharmacies to deal with some basic medical issues to free up GP appointments.
I have written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to ask that Sherwood Forest is prioritised for a new GP practice, with the Conservatives promising to fund 240 new or upgraded practices nationally. We are also proposing to force councils to use the powers they have to get more funding from developers to pay for infrastructure which includes money for healthcare.
Jeremy Paul Spry — Independent
The NHS has never let me down. My GP Practice has never let me down.
In all emergencies, I have been seen promptly and given professional treatment without any mention of costs. However. We have an ever growing population. There are daily developments in diagnosis and treatments, with new inventions, practices and drugs available for the NHS and its patients.
The survival of the NHS is about funding. How does a nation pay for this amazing service. The pressures upon NHS staff are enormous and at times seem to be insurmountable. The next Government must take a 50% shareholding in every pharmacutical supplier and all of the other major nhs suppliers, and drive the costs to the NHS down.
The Government must regulate the UK food industry, and the sales and availability of food types. What we consume has caused health problems of epidemic proportions in all age groups.
Lee Waters — Independent
Our NHS is in crisis and as your new Independent MP, I will put our great institution first. It must remain free at the point of use. Our NHS is under threat from the Tories and Reform UK, who want to privatise it. At the last General Election, Boris Johnson promised 40 new hospitals but didn’t manage to build one. The situation at Newark Urgent Treatment Centre is the most acute. That’s why I was delighted to see my colleagues Debbie Darby and Adrian Amer attend the recent protest calling for a 24 hour service. Why should local people suffer from poorer access to healthcare than anywhere else?
I will fight for more NHS dentists, for more GP appointments and more support for our NHS if elected as your new MP.
Michelle Welsh — Labour
The NHS should be available and free for all. Money should no longer be the passport to the best treatment. People should get the best that modern science can offer. The Labour Party created the NHS, fixed the NHS in the past and will fix it again.
I believe we must shift our NHS away from a model of late diagnosis and treatment to a model where more services are delivered in local communities. We must use the power of technologies to transform the speed and accuracy of diagnostic services, saving potentially thousands of lives. And embed a greater focus on prevention in our healthcare system. We must end the 8am scramble to get a GP appointment, cut hospital waiting lists and increase local NHS dentists.
I love our NHS, I have admiration for those working in our NHS, often under challenging conditions, but it needs fixing.
No response was received from Green Party candidate Sheila Greatrex-White.
