Socialist Health Association Promoting Health through Socialism

Labour Party Health Policy

This page will give you links to various documents produced by the Labour Party and our contributions to discussions within the Party in reverse chronological order. Unless otherwise stated we have reproduced the official text without comment, although usually omitting the pictures (which, unfortunately, are usually stock pictures contributing nothing to the discussion). If nothing is mentioned about geography the documents apply to England only. Other documents examining Labour policies can be found on our news pages. Official access to the documents is through the Labour Party site, but is restricted to Party members.

Since 1997 policy making takes place through the National Policy Forum and the Partnership in Power process. We submitted our views on this process in Extending Labour Party Democracy in September 2007. Before 1997 resolutions were debated at national conference. In either case they contribute to the party manifesto, of which there is a collection at Keele University back to 1945 (all parties), and at Political Stuff (Labour Party only) back to 1900 - when the only health demands were "No Compulsory Vaccination" and "Public Control of the Liquor Traffic".

Partnership in Power Health document 2008 (revised after the NPF meeting in Warwick); SHA proposed amendments - including notes on what happened to them; Concensus on Public Services and Health

Partnership in Power second year Final Consultation document for Health September 2007

Other consultation documents: Britain in the World, Creating Sustainable communities,Crime, justice, citizenship and democracy, Education, Prosperity and work - September 2007

Consultation Document Health National Policy Forum July 2007

Labour Party health policy and the Brown Government - what the leadership candidates said about health

Labour Party Conference resolutions on Health September 2006

Welsh Policy Forum Consultation Document Health and Social Care October 2006

Labour Party NPF consultation document on health 2006

Health Policy Commission Work Programme 2006

Wales Labour Party: Welsh Policy Forum Consultation Document Health and Social Care - Second Stage Consultation December 2005

Nation's Health and Social Change Pat Hewitt October 2005

Future of the Health Service - Composite 6 Agreed at Party Conference September 2005

National Policy Forum document on Health July 2005

Improving health and education September 2004 The National Policy Forum documents agreed at Brighton Conference contain a great deal relevant to public health and health care in sections about other policies. These are extracted here.

Resolutions put to Conference 2003

Health Policy Commission Report to Conference 2003

John Reid MP, Secretary of State for Health, speeches (2003-2005)

John Reid's first speech on health 2003

Improving Health and Social Care Consultation Document May 2003

Newsletter May 2003

National Policy Forum Interim Document February 2003

Composite 2: Public Services October 2002

Report to Party Conference September 2002

SHA Response September 2002

Improving Health and Social Care Consultation Document March 2002

Alan Milburn MP, Secretary of State for Health, speeches (1998-2003)

Composite 4 - Public Services October 2001

National Policy Forum Report 1998

A scheme for a state medical service Labour Party May 1942

Labour and the Hospitals November 1938 (exact status of this is not clear)

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