On Thursday 28 November, Professor Stephen Peckham chaired a lively health services debate in advance of the forthcoming General Election, at the Old Sessions House, Canterbury Christ Church University.
Organised and hosted by the University of Kent’s Centre for Health Services Studies (CHSS) with support from the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing at Canterbury Christchurch University, the free event was open to all and attracted a wide audience across a wide range of ages, backgrounds and views.
Parliamentary candidates included Anna Firth (Conservative Party), and Hannah Temple (Green Party). Health campaigner Rita O’Brien represented the Labour Party, as Rosie Duffield, the incumbent MP for Canterbury and Whitstable, was unfortunately unable to attend due to illness. Each gave a three minute statement on their goals and aspirations for health and social care services and the NHS,
The debate was then opened to questions from the audience with the politicians given two minutes each to respond. Topics included privatisation of the NHS, mental health, the 111 Service, social care and workforce issues. There was also discussion of the future of acute hospital services in East Kent.
Stephen Peckham, Director of CHSS and Professor of Health Policy, said: ‘As we know from past elections and political campaigns, voters care deeply about health and social care policies, including the future of the NHS.
‘There were some particularly demanding questions on mental health with interesting comments about people’s own experiences of health care. Providing opportunities for people in East Kent to question representatives from political parties on health and social care issues at election times is part of our wider engagement work with our local community here in East Kent’.
*CHSS, part of the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, conducts research into a wide range of health systems and health services issues at local, national and international levels. It also supports and advises health care staff to develop and undertake research projects. CHSS collaborates with a wide range of partners in Kent, the UK and in other countries to improve the links between research, policy and practice.
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