Politicians should stop using health service patients and staff as "political footballs", according to the NHS Confederation.

In a warning to all parties, the organisation said they should instead focus on policies to improve long term care, public health and co-ordinate different services.

The comments came after the row over the treatment of Margaret Dixon, whose case was highlighted by the Conservatives after her operation was repeatedly cancelled.

"We want all the political parties to stop using NHS management, staff and patients as political footballs and to join us in a more honest debate about the real challenges facing the health service," said Dr Gill Morgan, chief executive of the NHS Confederation.

"And we want to draw attention to the fact that many of the biggest challenges facing the NHS are in primary, community and social care – where the vast majority of patients receive treatment and most of the money is spent."

Publishing its election manifesto on Monday, the health service body also called for a better deal for 17.5 million people living with long-term conditions in the UK.

And there should be a separate investment fund for health improvement to ensure that improving public health is a top priority, it said.

"The 1.3 million people who work in the NHS know better than anyone what the real challenges facing the health service are," Dr Morgan said.

"We represent more than 90 per cent of NHS organisations throughout the UK, which are all members of the NHS Confederation, and that means we are uniquely placed to take the temperature of the health service in election year.

"We believe that our three manifesto demands reflect health issues that politicians should be tackling during the forthcoming general election campaign."