AS AN accident and emergency doctor, and as prospective parliamentary candidate for St Helens South and Whiston, I welcome Ukip’s focus on the NHS – a welcome about-turn from a party that previously pledged to impose devastating £40 billion cuts to the NHS and to franchise out key services to private companies and charities.

However, I am sceptical of their candidates' support for a full A&E department at St Helens Hospital. Support for such a unit seems misinformed. After all, without the necessary acute inpatient facilities to provide support, any A&E department at Peasley Cross would merely serve as a stop-off before sick people head four miles in an ambulance to Whiston. The result would be delayed care and an inefficient use of a stretched ambulance service.

It’s vital we have a health service that can provide the best possible care. Greens want to bring an end to the £20 billion programme of funding cuts and to support a Bill that would rebuild and reinvest in the NHS.

I propose a debate with the Ukip candidates on health policy, as I see this cornerstone of their campaign to be misleading.

Dr James Chan, St Helens Green Party