The NHS was the most important issue for voters in the general election, a TUC/GQRR poll of 3,100 voters has found.
The health service was the number one issue for Labour, Lib Dem, SNP and Green voters, and in the top three issues for Conservative and UKIP supporters.
The poll also shows that nearly three-quarters (73%) of voters think that the NHS is getting worse – including 61% of Conservative voters.
The figures are released as part of the NHS’s 69th birthday today (Wednesday), which will be marked by campaign events at 33 hospitals across the UK, organised by the TUC, Health Campaigns Together and the NHS Support Federation.
Campaigners will be displaying giant birthday cards for the NHS, calling for increased funding, along with fair pay for staff and guarantees for a publicly-owned and operated health service.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:
“The NHS is issue number one for voters. This message should be a wake-up call for Westminster.
“On its 69th birthday, our health service is crying out for funding, while brave NHS workers badly need a pay rise.
“It’s time for ministers to listen to voters and stump up the cash our health service needs.”
Co-Chairs of Health Campaigns Together, Dr Louise Irvine and Merril Hammer, said:
“Our NHS has been put under unprecedented pressure. It has been underfunded, cut, and privatised, all while staff suffer a pay squeeze.
“The health service belongs to all of us, and groups across the country like Health Campaigns Together and the People's Assembly will stand up for a fully funded, publicly owned and provided NHS.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- All polling figures are from a TUC-commissioned GQRR nationally representative poll 3,102 voters in Great Britain. Online fieldwork was performed following the general election, from 9-12 of June. All data is available online here: www.gqrr.com/articles/2017/6/29/post-general-election-poll-for-the-tuc-…
- Analysis by the Health Foundation has shown that Conservative Party spending plans would leave the NHS with a funding gap of £21bn by 2022.
- Photo opportunity: Campaign events taking place outside hospitals are listed below, and mapped here: bit.ly/2s9xjDA . Contact details are available from the TUC press office.
Venue |
City |
Postcode |
Start |
End |
Southend University Hospital |
Southend/Westcliff-on-Sea |
SS0 0RY |
12.30pm |
2pm |
George Elliott |
Nuneaton |
CV10 7DJ |
9.30am |
2.30pm |
City Hospital |
Birmingham |
B18 7QH |
11am |
2pm |
Warwick Hospital |
Warwick |
CV34 5BW |
1pm |
3pm |
Norfolk and Norwich |
Norwich |
NR4 7UY |
7am |
9am |
Queens Medical Centre |
Nottingham |
NG7 2UH |
1pm |
1.30pm |
Greys Monument |
Newcastle upon Tyne |
NE1 5AF |
12pm |
2pm |
Royal Victoria Infirmary |
Newcastle upon Tyne |
NE1 4LP |
2.30pm |
3.30pm |
Royal Cornwall Hospital |
Treliske, Truro |
TR1 3LQ |
12am |
2pm |
City centre - sundial |
Plymouth |
PL1 1LA |
9am |
5pm |
Great Western Hospital |
Swindon |
SN3 6BB |
5pm |
6pm |
Royal Liverpool University Hospital |
Liverpool |
L7 8XP |
12pm |
2pm |
Aintree hospital |
Liverpool |
L9 7AL |
12pm |
2pm |
Southampton General |
Southampton |
SO16 6YD |
2pm |
3pm |
Dewsbury Hospital |
Dewsbury |
WF13 4HS |
4pm |
5pm |
St Richard's |
Chichester |
PO19 6SE |
11am |
1pm |
Royal Sussex |
Brighton |
BN2 5BE |
12pm |
2pm |
Medway |
Gillingham |
ME7 5NY |
tbc |
|
Leeds General |
Leeds |
LS1 3EX |
7.30am |
9.30am |
St James |
Leeds |
LS9 7TF |
12pm |
2pm |
Royal Derby |
Derby |
DE22 3NE |
4.30pm |
6pm |
Chesterfield Royal |
Chesterfield |
S44 5BL |
5pm |
6pm |
Sheffield Hallamshire Hospital |
Sheffield |
S10 2JF |
8am |
9.30am |
Barnet General |
Barnet |
EN5 3DJ |
7.30am |
9am |
Lewisham |
London |
SE13 6LH |
12pm |
2pm |
Royal London Whitechapel |
London |
E1 1BB |
7.30am |
9.30am |
Barts |
London |
EC1A 7BE |
12noon |
3pm |
Ealing Hospital |
Southall |
UB1 3HW |
12pm |
2pm |
UCLH |
London |
NW1 2BU |
5.30pm |
6.30pm |
Charing Cross Hospital |
London |
W6 8RF |
12pm |
2pm |
Queen Elzabeth's |
London |
SE18 4QH |
12pm |
2pm |
Whipps Cross |
London |
E11 1NR |
8am |
9am |
St Peter's |
Chertsey |
KT16 0PZ |
12pm |
2pm |
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