THE state of health services is proving a key debating point in the election campaign as Dorset’s emergency departments continue to experience enormous pressure.

The Echo is going to be examining the key issues by asking candidates in one seat their views - a different seat for each issue.

The Mid Dorset and North Poole seat is set to be one of the tightest contests in the country, with the Liberal Democrats defeating the Conservatives in 2010 by just 269 votes.

So the Daily Echo asked the candidates for their thoughts in a bid to find dividing lines amongst parties which are all promising more money for the NHS.

Lib Dem Vikki Slade said that NHS trusts receiving fines for missing four-hour time targets is ‘crazy’ and needs to end.

“What is the point of fining an organisation that is already struggling?” she added.

“The Liberal Democrats were the first party to commit to NHS England’s recommendation to spend an extra £8 billion with a credible costed plan.”

She said she believes there should be access to out-of-hours services at community hospitals and public information videos should be re-introduced to educate people on the services they can use.

Michael Tomlinson, the Conservative candidate, said the country needs to ‘get the economy right’ in order to continue essential spending.

He added: “I have seen the great work our doctors and nurses at Poole Hospital do.

“We need to keep increasing the number of nurses and doctors, which we have achieved over the last parliament.

“Our policy is to increase the number of GPs and ensure they are available seven days a week – if we can achieve that, then that will reduce the pressure on our A&Es.”

Labour’s Patrick Canavan blamed the coalition government’s changes to the system for the strain being put on hospitals.

He said: “One of the reasons for the increase in A&E admissions is the fact that the Tories have closed a lot of the walk-in centres.

“It is partly about money and we have committed this extra amount of £2.5 billion, which is over and above the others to fund 20,000 more nurses.”

He added that there needs to be greater integration between social care and hospital services.

The Echo made efforts to reach the constituency’s other candidates - UKIP’s Richard Turner and the Green’s Mark Chivers - but at the time of going to press they had not responded.

UKIP’s manifesto promises to spend £12 billion more a year on the NHS, end so called ‘health tourism’, scrap parking charges at hospitals and direct an extra £1.5 billion to mental health and dementia services.

The Green Party manifesto also pledges to spend £12 billion more on the NHS each year, promises free social care for those nearing the end of their lives and to stop any further private finance initiatives.