6 Nursing Times May 2017 / Vol 113 Issue 5 www.nursingtimes.net Nursing News A nurse’s guide to the 2017 general election were being forced to use food banks, but avoided making any commitments on either. Many organisations have put out their own manifestos, in which they have called on all three parties to tackle issues close to their agenda. The Royal College of Nursing, for example, has used its manifesto to call on party leaders to “put patients before politics”, with accurate and costed pledges on the NHS. Janet Davies, RCN chief executive and general secretary, said: “The last thing public services need are sums that do not add up. Slogans on buses and uncosted wish lists let patients down.” Among its priorities, it has called for the future government to ensure safe staffing levels, better pay for nurses, and the right for EU nursing staff to remain after Brexit. It also got its voice heard in Andrew Marr’s high-profile interview with Ms May, later criticising Ms May for failing to adequately reply to questions on nurse pay. ALAMY would guarantee the rights of EU nationals in the NHS and social care services to remain in the UK and continue its commitment to “true parity of esteem” for mental health. It also pledged to establish an independent, cross-party body – the NHS and Care Convention – that would engage staff and the public in a “national conversation” on policy. Mr Lamb added: “One of the biggest challenges facing the next government is to rebuild trust with nurses and other NHS staff who are feeling overstretched, undervalued and demoralised. The Liberal Democrat manifesto will contain firm commitments on nurses’ pay, as well as funding for training.” As in previous elections, the party that has remained the quietest on health policy is the Conservatives, preferring to concentrate on Brexit. Of course, as the standing government, it already has a range of health policies in place, though some commentators have predicted further measures to tackle the social care funding crisis. Prime minister Theresa May (right) was quizzed recently in a BBC interview on nurses’ pay and suggestions that nurses EXCLUSIVE Steve Ford [email protected] Who is promising what on health ahead of the general election, and who should nurses vote for? Difficult questions to answer, but here Nursing Times sets out some of what we know so far. While Brexit may have inevitably dominated the early days after the calling of the snap general election next month, policies impacting on healthcare and nursing have increasingly come to the fore. As Nursing Times went to press, none of the parties had yet published their election manifestos – the Conservatives’ is expected on 8 May and Labour’s on 15 May – but here is what we know so far. Labour has been the first to make a definite play for the votes of those with health and social care policies on their mind. On 25 April, it announced a “three-point election guarantee” for the NHS, with a promise to scrap the 1% cap on pay rises, reinstate the student nurse bursary and enshrine safe staffing in law. All of these policies would come with a significant price tag, though the party has said reversing the government’s reductions in corporation tax would cover their cost. In a speech, Labour health spokesman Jonathan Ashworth (below, left) said: “We won’t make promises on behalf of the NHS without giving the NHS the resources and the tools to deliver those promises. The NHS under Labour will always get the funding it needs.” More announcements on health policies are expected to follow from the party, potentially including a guarantee on the future status of European Union staff working for the NHS after Brexit. Meanwhile, a Liberal Democrat spokesperson told Nursing Times that the party’s manifesto would also include financial pledges to boost nurse pay and training. In the meantime, it highlighted five key election commitments, including investing in public health, social care, primary care and mental health. Controversially, it also said it will add an extra 1p on income tax to provide an “emergency injection of resources” to tackle the NHS funding crisis. Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb (above, right) said: “We urgently need to increase its funding and secure its future, and the Liberal Democrats are prepared to take bold measures on taxation to achieve this.” In addition, the party