Click the headline or link below to read the rest of this story.
In a video message, the Liberal Democrat hails reforms approved in the United States this week which will extend healthcare to millions of residents.
And she warns about its future after A&E was downgraded at Solihull Hospital and bosses move to cut back its maternity service.
She said: “It’s something that in this country we’ve taken for granted for a very long time and it’s something that’s very precious to us. We tend to take free health care for granted.
“But in Solihull we’ve been fighting for quite a long time now against the erosion of our local hospital services.
“Maybe we shouldn’t be so complacent about the NHS in this country.”
She pointed to comments by South East Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan who told an interviewer the NHS was a ‘mistake’.
Tory leader David Cameron branded Mr Hannan’s view as ‘eccentric’ and said: “The Conservative Party stands four square behind the NHS.”
Mrs Burt said: “Wouldn’t it be tragic if, after 60 years of the national health service, we started travelling back in the same direction that the Americans are just escaping from.”
Health chiefs are to close Solihull Hospital to all births from April 26 and then re-open it about a month later for midwife-led births only. Its long-term future will be consulted on in the autumn.
Click here for stories about the plans.
Lorely Burt on the plans:
Daniel Hannan on the NHS 'mistake':
What do you think? Leave your comments below. No registration required.
Click here to get stories by email.
