Saving the NHS

Whilst away from home, in Cheshire, I fell and sustained a very serious break to my wrist. My most difficult problem, had I not had friends nearby with a car would have been getting to a hospital. As it was, I was taken to the nearest Accident and Emergency department where my arm was manipulated and encased in plaster. I was even given a copy of the X-rays on a DVD to take to the Conquest on my return home a couple of days later.

Despite recent horror stories about mistreatment of patients most of could quote plenty of examples of excellent service whether it be parents in the later years of their lives or small babies needing intensive care as soon as they are born. We have great expectations of our health service and we must ensure that those expectations continue to be met.

Following the Conservative neglect of the NHS when they were in power, Labour has done much to improve matters. However there has been too much wastage on ill thought out management reorganisation, failed IT projects and doctors contracts.

All of these mistakes are costly - costly and wasteful of taxpayers' money. Had I been in the USA when I broke my wrist I would have had the worry of whether I had sufficient medical cover to pay for treatment. Here we largely take it for granted that we can just turn up and receive attention or, in due course, the necessary operation or treatment.

I am pleased that I belong to a political party which believes in the NHS. Liberal Democrats believe that it should deliver high-quality services to all, irrespective of income and in order to achieve that, changes are necessary. We already have a firm policy in place to achieve a better NHS.

However the country's finances are not in a good shape and the argument continues particularly between Government and the Conservative opposition as to where public spending cuts need to be made.

I believe, as does my party, that much could be achieved by cutting out the waste in public services, not just the NHS. To this end Nick Clegg has this week launched a campaign directed towards the people who know most about public services: public servants. The people who are best placed to tell us where money isn't well spent are the teachers, nurses, social workers and other public servants who work so hard, day and night, to serve people.

So if you work in the public sector - or have family, friends or colleagues who do - then please visit, and encourage them to visit, www.NickClegg.com/InTheKnow to give us your ideas - so we can make sure that every penny of our money is well spent. Or you can contact me direct on [email protected]