The Liberal Democrats have become increasingly popular in the UK, especially since the MP’s expenses scandal last year and has gained percentage points in recent polls in the run up to the general election. In the increasing likelihood of a hung parliament next month, Nick Clegg and his party will have a vital contribution to the running of the future government and their policies have come to the forefront of attention. In the final part of Freedom Healthnet’s election special, we look at the UK’s third party’s ideas for the NHS and the impact they could have on the private health insurance industry if their influence in Parliament grows.


The NHS budget could be under threat if the Lib Dem’s get their way. The party’s manifesto does not guarantee the future of the health services funding in a bid to cut the expenditure of the government. All political parties will be looking to save money where they can to help pay off the huge debt the country is now in, and Nick Clegg is planning to source some of this from the health budget. The Department of Health could be cut in half to make some of these efficiency savings. Some people may be worried that this could mean the quality of care could suffer as a result of this, and may take out a quote for private medical insurance to give themselves extra peace of mind.


Other proposed savings would come from a reorganisation of the structure of the NHS. Strategic health authorities would be scrapped, and giving the power to plan health services to elected local health boards. The Lib Dem’s answer for the controversial provision of out of hours GP care would be to give a greater role back to GPs in providing the service. It would mean some local doctors would have to be involved. This could be in response to concerns that some agency GPs have not been providing a high level of care, as seen high profile cases recently where patients have died and may have meant some people have opted for private health insurance to have affordable access to private doctors.