Lib Dems unveil national health campaign in Islington

2.56.00pm GMT Tue 22nd Mar 2005

Patients are more important than targets, says Bridget Fox

The Liberal Democrats nationwide campaign to focus on patients rather that Government targets was launched today (Tuesday 22nd March) in Islington - a key target seat for the Liberal Democrats in the forthcoming General Election.

Welcoming the new national campaign, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Islington South and Finsbury, Bridget Fox, said; "Local people are very concerned about the state of the National Health Service. Too many people are waiting for far too long because doctors are trying to meet Labour's political targets, rather than patients clinical needs".

The campaign launch came just two months after Bridget launched the biggest ever survey into women's health in Islington, sending out over 25,000 questionnaires, with over nearly half of respondents rating their experience of local hospital services as "poor".

Bridget added; "The Liberal Democrats will speed up access to diagnosis so that treatment can start more quickly. Sadly at the moment some patients waiting for potentially life saving cancer and heart diagnosis are facing long and unacceptable delays".

The fact that the Liberal Democrats chose Islington to launch their health campaign shows how tight the race to replace Chris Smith has become, with just 12 votes separating the two parties in the 2004 GLA elections.