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Steve Brine

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Winchester

Our Priority - the local NHS

Our Priority - the local NHS

David Cameron has launched the Conservative Party's draft health manifesto, backed by Prospective Winchester MP Steve Brine.

Over three years ago the Conservative leader spelled out his priorities in three letters – NHS.


Since then Mr Cameron, supported passionately in Winchester by Prospective MP Steve Brine, has consistently fought to protect the values the NHS stands for and has campaigned to defend the NHS from Government cuts and reorganisations.


As the party of the NHS, we will never change the idea at the heart of our NHS – that healthcare in this country is free at the point of use and available to everyone based on need, not ability to pay. Labour promised to save the NHS but today, despite the massive increase in spending, the gap in health outcomes between the UK and the rest of Europe has actually widened.


Mr Cameron says; “Today, the Conservatives are the party of the NHS. But talk is cheap, you’ve got to back that with action. And we have. We are the only party committed to protecting NHS spending.  I’ll cut the deficit, not the NHS.”


Steve Brine adds; “I have raised issues locally concerning the future of the RHCH, the threat to GP surgeries and access to NHS dentistry, among others. I rely on the NHS like the vast majority of the people I seek to represent and will always back a strong District General Hospital in Winchester - with maternity and A&E.”


You can download the full DRAFT MANIFESTO here but some important headlines I have extracted include:

  • We will scrap all of the politically‐motivated ‘process targets’ that stop health professionals doing their jobs properly and set NHS providers free to become autonomous Foundation Trusts.   As your Member of Parliament I will campaign hard to see Winchester and Southampton Hospitals acquire Foundation Trust status as soon as practically possible.

  • A Conservative government will give mothers a real choice over where to have their baby.  NHS funding will follow their choices and allow new providers to deliver maternity care especially services like ante and post-natal support.   As your MP I will always support families and demand first‐class maternity services for local people.

  • Under Labour fewer people are able to see an NHS dentist.  I am backing a new dentistry contract that will tie newly qualified dentists into the NHS for five years.

  • We will focus on the health results that really matter, like improving cancer and stroke survival rates and reducing infections and we will enable patients to rate hospitals and doctors according to the quality of their care. 


Steve - whose own daughter Emily Jane Brine was born at the Royal Hampshire in November 2007 - meets regularly with senior managers at the Winchester and Eastleigh Trust, as well as spending time talking to GPs, carers and the many other people who work in Winchester's local NHS.


Steve is pictured above with Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley talking to a ward sister at the RHCH on a visit to the city.


Steve Brine out and about within our local NHS ...

  • He has spent a number of shifts out on call with the Winchester Ambulance Service.
  • He has brought the Shadow Health Secretary (Andrew Lansley MP) to Winchester's Royal Hampshire County Hospital to see the excellent work being done to combat MRSA infection. See more on this story here.
  • He has stood up for Winchester Hospital in the face of attack from other local politicians trying to secure short-term political gain from criticising the service and its hard-working staff. See more here.
  • He volunteered to help the Red Cross Trolley Round, seeing for himself the work of staff and the patient experience first-hand. See more here.

You can contact Steve with your experiences of the local NHS, both as a patient or a member of staff (in 100% confidence of-course!). Email prioritynhs@stevebrine.com


Campaign links within this website ...

You can see links to all NHS related stories on my website below: