Dwyfor Meirionnydd election candidates turned their attention this week to the National Health Service.

Speaking to the Cambrian News, they shared their views on the NHS and its importance in this election.

Conservative candidate Tomos Dafydd Davies said: “I believe in the NHS and its values. I also recognise the fantastic work that our health professionals, doctors and nurses do every day.

“It pains me that in Wales, the Welsh Government has starved the NHS of the vital resources it needs to provide consistently excellent care to patients.

“In fact, Wales is the only region of the UK where health budgets have been cut in the past decade.”

He added: “That is why I am proud that the Conservatives have committed an additional £1.9 billion to the Welsh NHS, its biggest ever cash boost, so that it is there for all of us, whenever we need it.”

Labour candidate Graham Hogg said: “How often have we heard ‘Why can’t they just take the NHS out of politics?’

“It’s a reasonable ask but is it realistic?

“Our NHS was born in Wales with Nye Bevan facing down huge opposition from the Tories and vested interests.

“Today it is just as difficult with the rich elite wanting to dodge their fair share of tax.

“We also have to deal with the US who want a post-Brexit trade deal that could push up the NHS drugs bill.”

Brexit candidate Louise Hughes said: “As far as I’m concerned our NHS is sacrosanct and it should not be used as a political football to try to gain votes.

“However, having spoken to NHS staff over the last few weeks they all agree that the service needs to be reformed to make it fit for purpose in the 21st century.

“The population of the UK when the NHS was formed in July 1948 stood at 49.4 million, we are now at 66.4 million and rising.

“We need to preserve the ‘free at the point of entry’ ethos of the NHS, but there should be an urgent inquiry into why the service is abused and how to rectify it.

“Non-attendance of appointments, multiple unnecessary prescriptions, unused in-date medications thrown away etc, all contribute to wasting precious time and money when it could be best spent elsewhere.”

Plaid Cymru candidate Liz Saville Roberts said: “We have seen crisis after crisis, health boards in special measures, and patients not being able to receive the care they need.

“That’s why Plaid Cymru has set out a plan to ensure everyone in Wales has access to the health and social care they need, when they need it, for free, by creating a new, seamless National Health and Care Service for Wales.”

Mrs Saville Roberts added: “We would also recruit and train an additional 1,000 doctors, 5,000 nurses, and 100 NHS dentists, and ensure that rural communities have access to consultant-led A&E and maternity services within no more than an hour’s drive.

“We have said very clearly that we will stand firm and fight against any plan to sell off any part of the NHS as part of a UK-US trade deal.”