The manifesto is the first in the party's history to include a dedicated chapter on care.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said: ‘After years of Conservative chaos and neglect, the scale of the challenge is enormous. Our manifesto doesn't shy away from it. We are putting forward a bold, ambitious and fully-costed plan to tackle the health and care crisis from top to bottom.'

The Lib Dem plan includes:

•         giving everyone the right to see a GP within seven days, or within 24 hours if they urgently need to, with 8,000 more GPs to deliver on it
•         guaranteeing access to an NHS dentist for everyone needing urgent and emergency care, ending DIY dentistry and ‘dental deserts'
•         improving early access to mental health services by establishing mental health hubs for young people in every community and introducing regular mental health check-ups at key points in people's lives when they are most vulnerable to mental ill-health.
•        boosting cancer survival rates and introducing a guarantee for 100% of patients to start treatment for cancer within 62 days from urgent referral.
•        implementing a 10-year capital investment plan for hospitals and the primary care estate to end the scandal of crumbling roofs, dangerous concrete and life-expired buildings
•       helping people to spend five more years of their life in good health by investing in public health.

The Lib Dems said the £9bn a year plans would be funded through reversing the tax cut given to big banks and closing the loopholes on Capital Gains Tax used by the top 0.1% wealthiest in the country.

Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive, NHS Providers, said the Liberal Democrats had highlighted the ‘important links between the NHS and social care'.

He also welcomed pledges for more early access to mental health services and investment in public health as well the focus on the need for greater capital investment in NHS buildings, facilities and equipment to help trusts to boost productivity and cut waiting lists.

‘The next government and an NHS fit for the future must work hand in hand to create the picture of health we all want to see,' he added.