This week we put the candidates on the spot on issues affecting the people of Swindon.

Today’s subject is HEALTH... and our questions are: With the GWH struggling during winter months, how will your party help it to cope with demand?

How will you help local authorities deal with the increased demand for adult care, an issue set to rise further?

Many in Swindon complain about waiting times for GPs – what will you do to help this problem?

POPPY HEBDON-LEEDER:

1. The Green party would repeal the Health and Social Care 2012 act and immediately increase the NHS budget by £12bn a year. We’d also provide free social care for the over 65s which would remove some of the blocks to people being discharged from hospital.

2. Provide an additional £8bn a year for free social care for the over 65s, and a further £0.5bn for adults aged 18 – 65 with a proven care need. Improve funding for mental health care by 33% and increase the carers allowance as they save the state £millions every year.

3. Additional funding for the NHS and the creation of local community health centres will allow people to access healthcare locally and quickly. The NHS needs to decide how best to tackle waiting times, not politicians who just need to make sure the money is available.

MARK DEMPSEY:

1. The Tories are presiding over an NHS crisis. I want an NHS that is fit for the 21st Century. Labour will recruit 20,000 new nurses and 8,000 new GPs – a fully funded commitment. Labour created the NHS, we saved it, and we will always support it.

2. I met with GWH and cuts to social care have meant a big increase in ‘bed blocking’. Labour will join up services from home to hospital, recruiting 5,000 new homecare workers and integrating health and social care so that we create an NHS with the time to care.

3. I have spoken to many residents that are waiting weeks for a GP appointment. Labour will guarantee GP appointments within 48 hours – and on the same day for those who need it. This will be a big help for patients and help relieve the pressure on A&E.

JANET ELLARD:

1. We would invest an additional £8bn in the NHS. As health services gradually become better integrated with social care, more beds should be freed up for patients to move from A & E onto wards. Better access to care in GP surgeries and closer to home will also help reduce pressure on hospitals.

2. Adult social care is essential in supporting and safeguarding some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. The Government needs to be aware of the pressures on local government and to make additional funds available, as well as encouraging further work on prevention and reablement.

3. We will ensure easier access to GPs by expanding evening and weekend opening and encouraging phone and Skype appointments. We would encourage GPs to work in disadvantaged areas though our Patient Premium We would make better use of community pharmacists so they become the first point of contact for advice on minor illnesses.

JUSTIN TOMLINSON:

1. The Conservative Government was right to ring-fence NHS funding, increasing it by £12.7 billion over the past 5 years. We have pledged a further £8 billion a year in funding to meet growing demand. This is in stark contrast to the NHS in Labourrun Wales, where funding was disgracefully cut.

2. Conservatives have created a £5.3 billion Better Care Fund which aims to integrate health and social care; providing strong adult care, whilst lifting the pressure on hospital wards. We are also committed to ensuring that people can see a GP and receive hospital care 7 days a week by 2020.

3. An extra £2.1bn bank levy will fund recruiting and training an extra 5,000 GPs to work in local surgeries to meet increasing demand. This, plus our pledge to create a truly 24/7 NHS, will mean that there are more flexible appointments available so that people can see their GP sooner.

JAMES FAULKNER:

1. Make local surgeries work better so patients are dealt go there for more minor issues, instead of going to A and E because they can’t get an appointment. UKIP will Fund 20,000 more nurses, 8,000 more GPs and 3,000 more midwives.

2. UKIP wants so invest an extra £1.5 billion into mental health and dementia services over the next five years. We would seek to address the time and wages paid to care assistants to improve home care.

3. Encourage surgeries to open longer hours. Also have one day a week when they open in the evening. Encourage minor problems to be dealt with by nurses rather than a GP to reduce the number of appointments GPs have.