We'll put patients first says Crosby's Liberal Democrat candidate

8.02.20pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 19th Apr 2005

The Liberal Democrat candidate for Crosby, Jim Murray, has been setting out his party's prescription for a healthier nation including free personal care for the elderly, free eye and dental check ups, and a healthier environment.

He said that freeing doctors and nurses from red tape would be a priority for the Liberal Democrats. "We will abolish absurd government targets in the NHS. Dedicated health professionals should be set free to get on with the job of putting the needs of patients first, rather than always having to worry about whether they will meet targets set by politicians."

"There will be more of these health professionals too, because we will complete existing NHS plans to recruit 8000 more doctors and 12,000 more nurses by 2008."

He explained how a Liberal Democrat government would use money raised by a new higher tax rate on incomes over £100,000 to pay for free personal care for the elderly, as recommended by an independent inquiry into long term care.

"Prevention is better than cure," he said. "That's why we will end charges for eye and dental check ups to reduce the risk of problems going undetected. It is also why we will encourage walking and cycling, and back measures to improve the quality of the air we breathe."