Labour’s parliamentary candidate Clair Hawkins has been campaigning in Deal against the privatisation of the NHS.

She held a street stall on Saturday last week in Deal High Street to hand out an NHS survey and collect signatures in support of Labour MP Clive Efford’s bill to stop privatisation.

The bill will be debated on November 21 and aims to ensure patient care is put before private profit.

However, Tory MP for Deal and Dover, Charlie Elphicke claims there are no plans to sell off the NHS.

Ms Hawkins said: “The most common feedback I hear from local people is the care they receive from the NHS is fantastic but they can see that staff are totally over-stretched.

“Waiting lists are growing, patient transport is getting worse and clinics at Deal Hospital are still under threat.

“Our NHS is a national treasure, however, under this Tory-led government it is being broken up and sold off. Labour would stop this but we need change now.

“That’s why we are collecting signatures to support Labour’s bill to stop privatisation of the NHS and why I’m asking people to fill in a survey sharing their experience.”

Since the Health and Social Care Act 2012 was brought in Ms Hawkins claims more than £10 billion of NHS contracts have gone to private health providers.

She added: “I wrote to Dover and Deal Tory MP Charlie Elphicke back in August asking him to support the bill but I haven’t had a response yet. I’m not too hopeful though, as he fully supported the dreadful 2012 Health and Social Care Act.”

Mr Elphicke said: “Under Labour, Deal hospital was left under threat and Dover hospital was wrecked.

“The Conservatives have saved Deal hospital, are building a new Dover hospital and we have increased NHS funding every year.

“No one is selling off the NHS. It’s just a pathetic fear campaign.”