In addition, the party committed an additional £20bn capital investment in upgrading crumbling hospitals, primary care buildings and outdated equipment, and increasing frontline workers' salaries.
Green co-leader, Adrian Ramsay, said: ‘Today's announcement represents a game changing package that is more than any other political party is offering. It has been fully costed and could be fully delivered.'
The £50bn spending pledge, which came with a ‘Green cast iron guarantee' to fight NHS privatisation, would be used to:
- dramatically reduce waiting lists
- offer everyone access to an NHS dentist
- guarantee rapid access to a GP when there is urgent need and dramatically reduce waiting times for all
- ensure people needing mental health support can access relevant therapies within 28 days
- invest £5bn per year to boost NHS salaries and keep our wonderful nurses and doctors in the UK
- invest £20 billion per year into adult social care to ensure dignity for those in need of care and take pressure off the NHS – including introducing free personal care.
- restore public health budgets with £1.5bn uplift in spending.
The Green Party spending commitments are part of a fully costed manifesto which will be funded by a wealth tax of 1% on assets over £10m and 2% over £1bn. The manifesto will be launched on 12 June.