Lib Dems 'clear roadmap' to 'safeguard' the NHS

The Lib Dems say their spending plans for the NHS provide a clear roadmap that will safeguard it for the future. The Lib Dems earlier in the week announced how they will 'increase NHS funding by at least £8bn per year in real terms by 2020.' Despite their 'rhetoric', the Lib Dems say that neither Labour or the Tories have a credible response to the funding challenges the NHS faces. The Lib Dems say they are the only party to set out an NHS plan that meets that meet the financial needs of the NHS as set out by the Chief Executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens in his Five Year Forward View.

The Conservatives have made no specific real terms commitments to NHS funding and Labour have pledged only £2.65bn to be fully introduced by the third year of the next parliament. The Lib Dems say their plans also include to increase NHS spending in line with the growth of the economy, once we have finished the job of tackling the deficit in 2017/18.

A Lib Dem spokesman said: "By building a stronger economy we can safeguard a strong NHS for the future. Only the Liberal Democrats have committed to investing £8bn a year by 2020 in the NHS."