This Saturday is 2018 World Health Day which is all about Universal Health Coverage.

Half of the world’s people still struggle to get basic medical help, choosing between, food, shelter and life saving drugs. But in the UK we are incredibly lucky to have our NHS.

That’s why the Liberal Democrats are calling for an extra £6 billion a year to protect the NHS, paid for by an extra penny on Income Tax.

The money raised will be guaranteed for the NHS and social care services, which is currently in crisis with delayed operations, full hospital beds and record numbers left waiting in A&

Our NHS is at breaking point. With the Conservatives planning even more cuts, our health service needs a necessary funding injection.

I don’t think politicians are being honest with people and saying we all need to contribute a little more, with the money going direct to the NHS. Our national health services are worth an extra 1p on income tax to ensure the safety of patients. This would solve the short-term funding crisis.

Sir David Nicholson, who led NHS England for almost a decade, is among a group of senior health professionals and experts to back an increase in personal tax to provide the struggling services with an extra £6bn a year.

We must give our doctors, nurses and other health workers the funding they need to continue providing a world-class health service.