Conservative manifesto focuses on staff
The party’s manifesto, published on 24 November, confirmed previously announced revenue funding increases for the NHS – a cash increase of £33.9bn by 2023/24, compared with the 2018/19 allocation. However, it added that there would be further funds for 50,000 more nurses and 6,000 more doctors. 
‘We believe that the best way to improve the NHS and meet rising demand is to invest in its most important asset – its people. That is why we are devoting additional funding, on top of our existing record settlement, to hire and support more doctors, nurses and other health professionals,’ the manifesto said.
It also reiterated the campaign promise of 50 million more appointments at GP surgeries each year.
The Conservatives removed the student nurse bursary in 2017, but the party said it would introduce maintenance grants for student nurses of between £5,000 and £8,000 a year. It also promised improvements in staff morale with funding for professional training and ‘more supportive hospital management’.
Hospital car parking charges for people who are disabled, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight and staff working night shifts would be abolished. The Tories said this would eliminate costs for those in need, ‘while making sure there are enough spaces for everyone’.
The manifesto pledged to improve operational performance and an urgent review of doctors’ pension tax problem within 30 days of forming a government.
It directly addresses one of Labour’s key attacks on the government – that, post Brexit, a future US trade deal would leave the NHS up for sale. The manifesto said: ‘When we are negotiating trade deals, the NHS will not be on the table. The price the NHS pays for drugs will not be on the table. The services the NHS provides will not be on the table.’
The Conservatives said they would give social care an extra £1bn a year; urgently seek cross-party consensus on legislation for long-term reform and ensure no-one needing care must sell their home to pay for it.
Launching the manifesto, prime minister Boris Johnson (pictured) said: ‘It is this one nation Tory party that is already embarked on the biggest cash boost for the NHS for a generation. And in this manifesto, we pledge 50,000 more nurses and their bursaries and 50 million more GP surgery appointments.'
‘We believe that the best way to improve the NHS and meet rising demand is to invest in its most important asset – its people. That is why we are devoting additional funding, on top of our existing record settlement, to hire and support more doctors, nurses and other health professionals,’ the manifesto said.
It also reiterated the campaign promise of 50 million more appointments at GP surgeries each year.
The Conservatives removed the student nurse bursary in 2017, but the party said it would introduce maintenance grants for student nurses of between £5,000 and £8,000 a year. It also promised improvements in staff morale with funding for professional training and ‘more supportive hospital management’.
Hospital car parking charges for people who are disabled, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight and staff working night shifts would be abolished. The Tories said this would eliminate costs for those in need, ‘while making sure there are enough spaces for everyone’.
The manifesto pledged to improve operational performance and an urgent review of doctors’ pension tax problem within 30 days of forming a government.
It directly addresses one of Labour’s key attacks on the government – that, post Brexit, a future US trade deal would leave the NHS up for sale. The manifesto said: ‘When we are negotiating trade deals, the NHS will not be on the table. The price the NHS pays for drugs will not be on the table. The services the NHS provides will not be on the table.’
The Conservatives said they would give social care an extra £1bn a year; urgently seek cross-party consensus on legislation for long-term reform and ensure no-one needing care must sell their home to pay for it.
Launching the manifesto, prime minister Boris Johnson (pictured) said: ‘It is this one nation Tory party that is already embarked on the biggest cash boost for the NHS for a generation. And in this manifesto, we pledge 50,000 more nurses and their bursaries and 50 million more GP surgery appointments.'
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