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BBC Election 2005

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Last Updated: Thursday, 21 April 2005, 15:23 GMT 16:23 UK
UK voters' panel: Siobhan Burgess

MEET THE PANEL
Siobhan Burgess
Name: Siobhan Burgess
Age: 35
Lives: Warrington
Works: Occupational health nurse
Current voting intention: Labour
In 10 words or less:
"Family-centred wife, mother, nurse, cyclist, animal lover, amateur gardener"

Overall I am impressed with Labour's campaign so far.

It has remained focused on issues and policies and has not resorted to dirty tricks.

Crucially it has focused on the main issue that concerns me - the National Health Service.

The targets set for the provision of care for suspected bowel and breast cancer are excellent.

But I feel that with further initiatives and more structured reforms of the health service there should be no need for targets to be set as all acute illnesses will receive prompt assessment and treatments can be initiated, improving chances of survival of previously fatal diseases.

With the targets set for ill health and treatment, the Labour Party is also addressing the health of the nation with plans to improve children's diets.

As individuals we should take responsibility for our own wellbeing.

VOTERS' PANEL: HALFWAY MARK
Improvements in the care of the elderly would also see an increase in the number of hospital beds, as care would be provided for people no longer able to take full care of themselves.

The rate of hospital-acquired infections is a concern for all users of the NHS, but this is not a new problem.

I had my first experience of MRSA infection in the late 80s under a Conservative government which introduced changes and reforms undermining the foundations of the NHS.

I am pleased to see Labour maintaining the values of the NHS - healthcare for all regardless of ability to pay.


Your comments:

Labour? Eight years with a fantastic majority and they could have changed Britain radically, but what did we get? High tax, war and lots of irrelevant tweaking. Blair and Bush are truly pathetic. The health service has not changed for me, I appreciate what the workers do but then I pay for it. Your pensions won't be affected and I will still be expected to pay for it.
Paul Ashton, Northampton, UK

Hello Siobhan. Unfortunately, Labour has not been so good about the Iraqi National Health Service. Child malnutrition is double what it was pre-invasion and an estimated 100,000 more Iraqis have died than otherwise. Can you really return the people responsible for such extra misery to power?
Themos Tsikas, Oxford

All Labour have done so far is to criticize the opposition and renew old promises that they should have kept eight years ago. As someone who works in the health service, how can this panellist not see the chronic waste created by this government?
Michael, Hastings

Siobhan says that Labour has remained focused on issues and policies and has not resorted to dirty tricks. In Spelthorne their claim to be against anti-social behaviour was shown to be hollow when they glued Labour party posters over the front of the local Conservative party offices. That showed the true nature of the Labour party.
Richard Smith-Ainsley, Staines





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