By Ruth Mosalski

Copyright walesonline

Reform UK will not introduce charges for the NHS or end free prescriptions if it wins power in Wales, its sole Senedd member has said. Laura Anne-Jones defected from the Conservatives to Reform in August and was speaking in a Senedd debate about the NHS and was asked to respond to comments by her party leader Nigel Farage. “Let me be absolutely clear, as the people of Wales deserve the truth, not misinformation, even if it means that some of you will now have to update your Caerphilly by-election leaflets,” she said, referencing the contest on October 23 . In January Mr Farage said in a radio interview that he was “open to anything” in terms of the NHS but has strongly denied claims from Labour , and other parties, that it would charge for the NHS though he has said the funding model needs to be “re-examined” and made more efficient. “When Reform forms a government next May the NHS will remain free at the point of delivery and free prescriptions will remain just that – free. Anyone suggesting otherwise is scaremongering. The fact that all parties in this chamber are pushing this line knowing full well that Reform policy is not to abolish the NHS shows how desperate you’ve all become,” she said. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . A quote from party leader Nigel Farage was then put to her by Plaid Cymru’s health spokesman Mabon ap Gwynfor where he said: ” I do not want the NHS funded through general taxation”. He then asked Ms Jones: “How else would you fund it here in Wales?” She admitted Mr Farage had a “special view” on the NHS. And then said: “Being interested in how other countries manage their health services, and looking if there are any parts of that that we can take and use in our NHS, is very, very different to committing the NHS to being abolished or privatised, or whatever it is. “What is clear, and what is in the quote that you missed, before he says that, is that he’s open to hearing what other health services do. “What you’re missing is that he’s always said that the NHS will always be free at the point of delivery and that is a very important point. Being open to how things are funded is a completely different kettle of fish. You know that when Reform forms the government next May, the NHS will remain, just for clarity, free at the point of delivery. “Reform policy is that the NHS will remain unequivocally free at the point of delivery”. Her former party leader, Darren Millar, told her it was “wonderful to have the opportunity to speak to you, the first time we’ve done so since you decided to defect to Reform”. He then asked her about her views on Covid vaccines and paracetamol safety. “I think what’s important here is that we’re discussing the record of the Welsh Government ,” she replied. She went further, saying Reform policy is to: “Bring back the matron, someone visible and respected and accountable for standards of care. We would also ensure the safety and dignity of patients by ensuring they have sex-based wards and use sex-based language.” She said “women need peer mentors within the NHS” and that “veterans have been overlooked”. Ms Jones said her party would “go further” than the Welsh Government with a cancer action plan and “ensure that adequate cancer care is accessible to every single person right across Wales”.