NHS CHARGES HITTING BRENT SICKEST HARDEST

9.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 5th Sep 2003

Liberal Democrat Brent East candidate Sarah Teather and Shadow Health Minister Dr Evan Harris MP today unveiled the damming results of the largest ever survey of NHS services conducted in Brent.

With over 1,500 surveys now returned, the response has shown: -

• 1 in 4 people who went to A&E had to wait longer than the 4-hour target to be seen by a doctor

• 44% of people said dental charges were putting them off going to the dentist

• A third of people in Brent have stopped getting their medication because of the increasingly high prescription charges

Brent East Candidate Sarah Teather said: -

"The people of Brent are fed up of the broken promises that have been made to improve the health service. The cynical target culture has stopped real improvements being seen by the people of Brent.

"The survey clearly shows that people want a National Health Service truly free at the point of delivery, and not with these added on costs that stop some of the most vulnerable in society from getting the preventative treatments they need.

"Dental, eye and prescription charges all hit the poorest and sickest hardest. This survey must be a wake up call to Ministers that services in Brent must improve.

Shadow Health Secretary Dr Evan Harris MP said: -

"Only the Liberal Democrats are committed to abolishing unfair charges for eye and dental checks and tackle the scandal of patients effectively denied the drugs they need because of ever increasing prescription charges.

"A Lib Dem victory in this crucial by-election will make it clear to the Labour Government that the NHS must improve."

ENDS

Notes to editors

A detailed breakdown of the analysis of the Brent Health Survey can be seen below:-

Question 1: How often have you consulted an NHS GP at his/her surgery in the last two years? Never 3.8

Once 10.6

2-5 times 43.3

More 42.3

Question 2: How many days have you had to wait for an appointment? One day 32.3

2-5 days 36.4

6-10 days 15.2

More 16.2

Question 3: Typically, how reasonable do you feel this waiting time has been? Very reasonable 34.0

Fairly reasonable 28.0

Not very reasonable 24.0

Not at all reasonable 14.0

Question 4: How easy is it to contact the surgery by telephone? Very easy 48.0

Fairly easy 33.0

Not very easy 7.0

Not at all easy 12.0

Question 5: Generally, how satisfied have you been with the consultation?

Very satisfied 45.0

Fairly satisfied 32.0

Not very satisfied 18.0

Not at all satisfied 5.0

Question 6: How often has an NHS doctor visited you at home during the past two years? Never 87.4

Once 7.8

2-5 times 4.9

Question 7: Have you attended A&E during the last three years?

Yes 49.0

No 51.0

Question 9: How long did it take for you to be seen? Up to one hour 29.8

2-4 hours 45.6

Longer 24.6

Question 10: If you have been referred by your GP to a hospital, how long did you wait between being referred by your GP and being seen for the first time by the hospital doctor?

Haven't been referred 21.1

Up to two weeks 5.6

2-4 weeks 26.8

1-3 months 38.0

Longer 29.6

Question 11: How reasonable do you feel this waiting time was?? Very reasonable 6.0

Fairly reasonable 30.1

Not very reasonable 25.3

Not at all reasonable 38.6

Question 12: What was the longest you have waited to receive any treatment which the hospital doctor said you needed (ie. An operation or drug therapy)

Up to four weeks 25.4

1-3 months 27.1

4-10 months 32.2

Longer 15.3

Question 13: On how many occasions have you paid privately to see a consultant during the past two years? Never 72.4

Once 8.0

Twice 10.3

3-5 times 3.4

More 5.7

Question 14: Typically how long have you had to wait to see a private consultant?

Up to two weeks 76.9

2-4 weeks 15.4

1-3 months 7.7

4-6 months 0.0

Longer 0.0

Question 15: How often have you been admitted to hospital as an NHS in-patient during the last two years? Never 68.2

Once 26.1

Twice 5.7

3-5 times 0.0

More 0.0

Question 17: How satisfied have you been with the nursing you have received?

Very satisfied 56.7

Fairly satisfied 30.0

Not very satisfied 6.7

Not at all satisfied 6.7

Question 18: How long was your stay in hospital? 1-2 days 40.0

2-4 days 20.0

5-7 days 16.7

Longer 23.3

Question 19: How soon after your admission did you see your consultant?

Same day 40.0

Within 2 days 23.3

Longer 20.0

Never 16.7

Question 20: How satisfied have you been with the hospital food you have received? Very satisfied 23.3

Fairly satisfied 26.7

Not very satisfied 30.0

Not at all satisfied 20.0

Question 21: How clean did you consider the hospital to be?

Very clean 26.7

Fairly clean 43.3

Not very clean 30.0

Not at all clean 0.0

Question 22: Generally how satisfied were you with your stay(s) in hospital? Very satisfied 36.7

Fairly satisfied 43.3

Not very satisfied 16.7

Not at all satisfied 3.3

Question 23: Are you registered as an NHS patient with a dentist? Yes 70.4

No 29.6

Question 24: Have you experienced any difficulties in trying to register as an NHS patient with a local dentist? Yes 25.3

No 74.7

Question 25: Has the introduction of dental charges discouraged you from having a dental check up? Yes 43.8

No 56.2

Question 26: Iain Duncan-Smith's Conservatives want to allow some people to jump waiting lists by giving them NHS money to go private. Those who can't afford it will be forced to wait even longer for treatment. Do you think this is fair? Yes 12.2

No 87.8

Question 27: A hip replacement operation costs about #9,000 in the private sector. Under new Tory plans, patients would have to pay over #5,000 of this. Do you think this is fair?

Yes 9.6

No 90.4

Question 28: Do you think that mixed sex wards are acceptable? Yes 24.5

No 75.5

Question 29: Has the introduction of eye test charges discouraged you from having your eyes tested regularly? Yes 38.4

No 61.6

Question 30: Prescription charges increased by 28 times under the Tories. They have continued to go up under Labour. Prescription medicine now costs #6.30 for each item. Have these charges ever stopped you from getting medicine? Yes 31.5

No 68.5

Question 31: Generally, how satisfied are you with the way in which the government is handling the NHS?

Very satisfied 3.9

Fairly satisfied 19.6

Not very satisfied 35.3

Not at all satisfied 41.2

Question 32: Which age group are you? Under 30 7.8

30-44 29.4

45-60 34.3

Over 60 28.4

Question 33: Do you have a child who attends a local school?

Yes 7.7

No 92.3

Question 34: How satisfied are you with your child's school? Very satisfied 12.5

Fairly satisfied 50.0

Not very satisfied 12.5

Not at all satisfied 25.0

Question 35: Are you aware of any funding or staffing problems at the school your child attends?

Yes 44.4

No 55.6

Question 36: Iain Duncan Smith's Tories want to slash spending on local schools and hospitals by 20%. These cuts would be disastrous for Brent residents. Do you support this policy? Yes 11.8

No 88.2

Question 37: Have you or any of your neighbours been a victim of crime in the last two years?

Yes 57.7

No 42.3

Question 38: If you have had to call the Police in the last two years how satisfied were you with the response you received? Very satisfied 24.2

Fairly satisfied 33.9

Not very satisfied 22.6

Not at all satisfied 19.4

Question 39: When did you last see a Police Officer on the beat in your area?

In the last week? 16.9

In the last month? 18.0

In the last year? 23.6

Over a year ago? 41.6

Question 40: The Lib Dems are campaigning for more Police actually on patrol on our streets to crack down on crime and the fear of crime. Do you support our campaign? Yes 94.9

No 5.1

Question 41: If you are on benefits do you still claim them from your local Post Offices?

Yes 16.3

No 20.7

Not on benefits 63.0

Question 42: Thousands of Post Offices have closed under both Labour and Conservative Governments. Do you support the Lib Dem campaign to stop further closures? Yes 88.1

No 11.9