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Tories are party of NHS - Cameron Tories are party of NHS - Cameron
(about 7 hours later)
The Conservatives are the "party of the NHS", leader David Cameron will claim as he sets out his vision of reform.The Conservatives are the "party of the NHS", leader David Cameron will claim as he sets out his vision of reform.
Mr Cameron is to restate his pledge to increase spending on health during a speech in Bolton, Greater Manchester.Mr Cameron is to restate his pledge to increase spending on health during a speech in Bolton, Greater Manchester.
He is bidding to recover from the fallout of Tory MEP Daniel Hannan's appearance on US TV, where he claimed the NHS had been a "60-year mistake".He is bidding to recover from the fallout of Tory MEP Daniel Hannan's appearance on US TV, where he claimed the NHS had been a "60-year mistake".
It forced Mr Cameron to defend his party from government accusations of "ambivalence" on public healthcare. Labour said Mr Cameron "could not be trusted to keep his promises" on the health service.
It was also revealed this week that one of his shadow health ministers, Lord McColl, was on the advisory board of Endeavour Health, which offers customers an alternative to NHS doctors. It was revealed this week that one of Mr Cameron's shadow health ministers, Lord McColl, was on the advisory board of Endeavour Health, which offers customers an alternative to NHS doctors.
In a speech later, Mr Cameron will go on the offensive and accuse Labour of "political point-scoring" instead of addressing the serious issues, and say their health service reforms have "come to the end of the line". 'Point-scoring'
We are the party of the NHS today because we not only back the values of the NHS - we have a vision for [its] future David Cameron In his speech, Mr Cameron will go on the offensive and accuse Labour of "political point-scoring" instead of addressing the serious issues, and say their health service reforms have "come to the end of the line"
Warm words and no action aren't enough to hide the two faces of the Tory party on the NHS Gillian Merron, health minister
He will say that despite looming economic restraints, health spending cannot stand still in the face of an ageing population and medical advances.He will say that despite looming economic restraints, health spending cannot stand still in the face of an ageing population and medical advances.
"The debt crisis means we need a new approach to public spending, to make sure we get more for less. But in the NHS, even that won't do," he will say."The debt crisis means we need a new approach to public spending, to make sure we get more for less. But in the NHS, even that won't do," he will say.
"That is why we have pledged real-terms increases in NHS spending - unlike Labour - a fact which, to put it mildly, takes the wind out of their point-scoring sails.""That is why we have pledged real-terms increases in NHS spending - unlike Labour - a fact which, to put it mildly, takes the wind out of their point-scoring sails."
The Tory leader will say that increased spending must be accompanied by reform, arguing that his party's plans to end top-down targets, introduce greater transparency, open up the NHS to new providers and give people greater choice over services will lead to better-quality care.The Tory leader will say that increased spending must be accompanied by reform, arguing that his party's plans to end top-down targets, introduce greater transparency, open up the NHS to new providers and give people greater choice over services will lead to better-quality care.
"We believe in the NHS. We understand the pressures it faces. We are the party of the NHS today because we not only back the values of the NHS, we have a vision for the future of the NHS," he will say."We believe in the NHS. We understand the pressures it faces. We are the party of the NHS today because we not only back the values of the NHS, we have a vision for the future of the NHS," he will say.
'Personal service' 'Rattled'
Mr Cameron will add that his party's reforms would offer "the best of both worlds: the fairness of a National Health Service that is unique to our country, combined with the quality and personal service that people are used to in other countries".Mr Cameron will add that his party's reforms would offer "the best of both worlds: the fairness of a National Health Service that is unique to our country, combined with the quality and personal service that people are used to in other countries".
The Conservative leader had been forced to rebuke Mr Hannan, describing his views as "eccentric", after the MEP claimed he would "not wish [the NHS] on anybody". The Conservative leader had been forced to rebuke Mr Hannan, describing his views as "eccentric", after the MEP claimed he would "not wish [the NHS] on anybody," arguing it was too bureaucratic and unfair.
It led Health Secretary Andy Burnham to claim the Tories would turn the NHS into the "biggest quango in the world" if they won the next election. Labour has sought to keep the pressure on Mr Cameron over the row, claiming that it revealed "deep ambivalence" in the Conservative Party about the NHS.
Government sources say the ongoing debate is likely to strengthen Mr Burnham's hand in bidding to secure increased spending on health in Chancellor Alistair Darling's autumn statement, says BBC political correspondent Iain Watson. Responding to Mr Cameron's latest claims, health minister Gillian Merron said: "If a rattled David Cameron won't stand up to special interests and hardliners in his party, how can he be trusted to keep his promises on health?
"Warm words and no action aren't enough to hide the two faces of the Tory party on the NHS."