People 'Would Pay' To Keep NHS Afloat
25 August 2016, 12:04 | Updated: 12 September 2016, 12:12
A doctor and former MP has claimed Britons would be prepared to pay more income tax if it meant the NHS remained viable.
Dr Richard Taylor, co-leader of the National Health Action Party and former MP for Wyre Forest, has spoken to James O’Brien about the suspension of accident and emergency services for under-18s at Stafford County Hospital.
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust has introduced the "interim measure" as of 10.00am today, due to a lack of "professionally trained and experienced staff".
But Dr Taylor says it’s just the latest sign that the National Health Service is on the brink of collapse.
"The bitter thing is, with my other political sort of hat on, talking to people locally and further afield, most people would be happy to put a little bit extra on income tax if it was dedicated specifically to the NHS.
"At the moment the work is so hard for the relatively few junior doctors who are left, particularly in A&E, that they’re leaving and going elsewhere."
Dr Taylor says the only thing that can be done is for more cash to be injected into the service.
"People would be prepared to pay if they knew that money was going to the NHS."
