As anger builds across the country against healthcare reforms, The Green Party welcomes the campaign by 38 Degrees to "Save the NHS." (1)
So far, the campaign has attracted over 102,000 online signatures.
The Greens want to stop private companies providing health care under an NHS banner and for an end to the internal market in the NHS.
Stuart Jeffery, health spokeperson for the Green Party, and a registered nurse, said:
"While the Tories and Liberal Democrats want to take Labour's NHS market and privatisation of the NHS to new heights, they have lost the confidence of both the public and clinicians.
"The government must listen to the concerns of people and halt these destructive changes. (2)
"Health care cannot be provided cohesively, or efficiently, when an internal market rules the NHS. Markets drive up healthcare costs, and they fragment patient care.
"None of the big three Westminster parties understand what is wrong with the NHS.
"While the Lib Dems are squirming over the NHS bill and want to change it, they still want an expanded market and private providers. (3)
"And Labour spent 13 years expanding the private sector in the NHS.
"The Greens want joined up health care, an end to the market, an end to fragmentation, and an end to private providers. Could anything be more straightforward?"
Notes
1. Link to the 38 Degrees petition on "Save the NHS"
3. NHS reforms face overhaul after Liberal Democrats' rebellion, 13 March, The Guardian