Welsh Conservatives will ‘put into law’ a guarantee that NHS remains in public hands

The Welsh Conservatives have said that they will “put into law” a guarantee that the NHS will remain in public hands if they win the Senedd election.

The party also said that they would guarantee at least an extra 2% rise in the NHS budget each year.

The ‘NHS Covenant’ would they say ensure that Welsh NHS staff and volunteers are treated with fairness and respect by future Welsh Governments, they said.

The plans will be launched at a GP surgery in the Vale of Clwyd tomorrow at 12noon with Welsh Conservative candidate Gareth Davies and Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies.

Gareth Davies is an NHS physio and former mental health worker. He said that as a former nurse, he saw the commitment his colleagues and frontline staff gave to the NHS.

“Labour have badly let down the people and communities of North Wales with its mismanagement of Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board,” he said.

“Welsh Conservatives will put right this wrong and introduce an NHS Covenant to ensure our treasured public service is supported and protected for years to come.

“This will see increased investment in the Welsh NHS, with at least an extra 2% uplift in the NHS budget each year and ensure staff receive the pay as recommended by the independent NHS Pay Review Body.

“Welsh Conservatives will build a better Wales with a stronger economy so we can increase investment in our public services.”

‘Poor leadership’

The NHS Covenant would, they said, provide guaranteed support in a number of ways including:

• Increased investment in the NHS, with at least an extra 2% uplift in the NHS budget each year
• Staff receive the pay as recommended by the independent NHS Pay Review Body
• Guaranteeing the NHS remains in public hands and is free at the point of use
• Improved staff well-being with more flexible working hours, increased holiday, greater access to childcare and mental health provision
• Stamping out abuse of NHS staff

Welsh Conservative Senedd leader, Andrew RT Davies said:  “Sadly under Labour in Wales, we have one in five people languishing on a waiting list, missed and abandoned targets, and a significant underfunding of our most treasured public service. It’s been two decades of poor leadership by successive Labour health ministers.

“Welsh Conservatives will support and protect our vital NHS for years to come through an NHS Covenant with guaranteed annual increases in the budget and giving staff the pay they deserve, whilst ensuring the Welsh NHS will always be free at the point of use.

“During the pandemic, more than three-quarters of a million people from across the UK stepped up and volunteered to support our NHS at one of the darkest and toughest times in its history.

“We will ensure that this desire to help is not lost or wasted but instead harnessed in a sustainable, long-term way with our NHS Reservists volunteer programme.

“We can’t afford five more years of the same under Labour. Welsh Conservatives have a plan to build a better Wales with more jobs, better hospitals and first-class schools.”