OUR NHS is the bedrock of our welfare state and is rightly admired around the world.

However, under this government and the previous Labour administration it has been starved of public funding, seen cuts to services and wages, and had its more profitable services opened up to big business.

Despite concerns the March budget was silent on the problems faced by the NHS and proposed nothing to end the A&E crisis; tackle understaffed wards; address the issue of GP access; or reverse cuts in elderly care.

When I was campaigning as part of the national ‘38 Degrees’ NHS day of action a few weeks back in Leominster, the concern of many people was clear. I heard many worrying accounts of a health service under huge pressure.

Not only are they worse for patients, the cuts and ‘efficiency’ measures haven’t worked. The Kings Fund predicted that hospitals and other providers were overspent by £800m at the end of the last financial year, tipping the NHS into deficit. And, in three key areas – A&E, cancer treatment and the 18-week wait from GP referral to starting specialist treatment, the NHS is falling behind waiting times targets.

The Green Party is committed to keeping public services in public ownership, properly funded and free at the point of delivery.

We will repeal the 2012 Health and Social Care Act and reverse the cuts that are eroding NHS service levels.

A quarter of us will experience some kind of mental health problem annually, it’s vital that effective help is available.

The Green Party recognises that mental and physical health problems often go together, and that many factors, including economic and social conditions, contribute to mental health difficulties.

‘Joined up’ services are vital for better outcomes. We will give mental health the priority it deserves.