With less than a week to go before the Eastleigh by-election, the National Health Action Party say they will be using an ambulance and pop-up doctors’ surgeries to take its message around the constituency on Saturday. But the doctors-on-call won't be dealing with medical complaints. Instead they’ll be with by-election candidate Dr Iain Maclennan, answering questions about the newly formed National Health Action Party.
The Party was founded last year by doctors and healthcare professionals seriously concerned at how the policies of the Coalition Government and the Labour party were bringing about the dismantling of the NHS. One of its co-leaders is the former MP for Wyre Forest, Dr Richard Taylor, who won two elections fighting on a local hospital issue. The Party plans to field 50 candidates at the next general election. Dr Iain Maclennan, an ex-Navy medical officer and former NHS GP and public health consultant in Hampshire, is hoping to be the NHA Party’s first MP.
On Saturday, the ambulance will be setting off from Eastleigh town centre around midday with Dr Maclennan and other doctors on board. They'll be holding pop-up surgeries at four different venues: Botley, Hedge End, Fair Oak and down by the shore at Hamble. Locals will have the opportunity to chat to Dr Iain Maclennan as well as other doctors involved with the NHA Party. There will also be chances for children to have their photos taken in the driver's seat of the ambulance and for adults to get their blood pressure checked.
