CAMPAIGN group Stroud Against the Cuts (SATC) have questioned the Stroud political parties to find out their responses to questions on the NHS in the run up to the county council elections next week.

SATC wanted to ask questions about the NHS in light of the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) from NHS Gloucestershire, which is claimed to "produce more joined up care to meet people’s needs more effectively despite huge funding pressures."

The Gloucestershire CCG have previously said about the STP: "The STP sets out the very significant challenges that exist and the opportunities to ensure local people can access high quality, sustainable and safe physical and mental health care into the future.

"The challenges include a growing population with more complex needs, increasing demand for services, escalating drug costs, recruiting enough staff with the right skills and expertise and pressure on finances."

Labour responded to SATC's questions by saying: "The Labour group does not support the STP and would look to review it at the earliest time.

“It is not democratic, and is not representative of how decisions should be made.

“The Tories have made this plan in secret, and have purposely excluded councillors from shaping it.

 "Health and Social Care is in dire need of help, it has been savaged by the current Tory administration, with cuts close to £11m this year alone and the Labour group have a plan that would see the council deliver home care services, create a joined up relationship with the NHS and provide outstanding care to every resident.

“We would also fight for a proper funding formula to make sure that health and care services were protected."

Councillor Iain Dobie, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson on the county council told SATC: "To date, the Gloucestershire STP lacks the detail needed to form a judgement on it.

“Whilst supporting the general principle of better integration of health and social care, we are concerned that in practice the STP may - after the council election - reveal itself as a vehicle for 'rationalisation' of services.

“This means possible cuts, i.e to maternity services at Cheltenham and Stroud hospitals.

"The Liberal Democrats have campaigned, both nationally and here in Gloucestershire, against Conservative cuts to health and social care.

“Not only do we as a party propose an increase in funding for both, but we have also proposed - in a motion passed at the last county council meeting - that there should be a major, national, cross-party, commission to agree a long-term and sustainable solution to the issue of funding for both."

Cllr Dorcas Binns, Conservative Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, has told the SNJ: “The Government has committed to increasing spending in Gloucestershire’s NHS from £708m today to over £803m in 2020.

"That’s a commitment to real growth, above inflation, every single year.

"Our local NHS has made it clear, time and time again, that there is no threat to either Stroud Hospital, or Stroud Maternity as part of the STP process.

"It is really disappointing to see political scaremongering once again about vital local services.”

A spokesperson for Stroud Against the Cuts said: “We would like to thank the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups for replying to each of the five questions, their answers have been published in full on our website stroudagainstcuts.co.uk.

“We are disappointed not to have not received any replies from the Conservatives or UKIP - and encourage members of the public to ask the questions of any candidates seeking to represent them.”

The Green Party have promised SATC a response and apologised for the lack of response so far, saying that their 3 candidates in the Stroud area have "been up against it time-wise with so much going on".

The NHS are working with local councils in 44 areas across England to try and make improvements to health and social care.

These proposals, called Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs), are place-based and built around the needs of the local population.

More information on Gloucestershire's STP can be read here.