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Ed Miliband criticises David Cameron over NHS payoffs Ed Miliband criticises David Cameron over NHS payoffs
(35 minutes later)
More than 2,000 NHS managers have received exit packages worth over £100,000, Ed Miliband said at prime minister's questions as he accused David Cameron of being out of touch with the crisis in the NHS. More than 2,000 NHS managers have received exit packages worth more than £100,000, Ed Miliband said at prime minister's questions as he accused David Cameron of being out of touch with the crisis in the health service.
Drawing on figures published last week in NHS accounts, Labour said that since 2010 330 staff had received exit packages of £200,000 or more, 513 received between £150,000 and £200,000 and 1,456 were given between £100,000 and £150,000. Drawing on figures published last week in NHS accounts, Labour said that since 2010 330 staff had received exit packages of £200,000 or more, 513 had received between £150,000 and £200,000 and 1,456 were given £100,000-£150,000.
Miliband also said 2,200 NHS managers had been made redundant and then re-employed between May 2010 and September 2012. Labour said 1,300 had been re-employed on a permanent basis and 900 on fixed-term contracts. Miliband also said 2,200 NHS managers had been made redundant and then re-employed between May 2010 and September 2012. Labour said 1,300 had been taken back on a permanent basis and 900 on fixed-term contracts.
With waiting times extending in many A&E wards, Miliband raised the NHS during prime minister's questions for the first time in months. In successive weeks Miliband has challenged Cameron over the cost of living, including Labour's proposed energy price freeze.With waiting times extending in many A&E wards, Miliband raised the NHS during prime minister's questions for the first time in months. In successive weeks Miliband has challenged Cameron over the cost of living, including Labour's proposed energy price freeze.
Miliband claimed that A&E targets had been missed for 15 consecutive weeks, and said the responsibility lay with a top-down reorganisation of the NHS that no one had wanted. He criticised Cameron for "giving P45s to nurses and six-figure payoffs to managers".Miliband claimed that A&E targets had been missed for 15 consecutive weeks, and said the responsibility lay with a top-down reorganisation of the NHS that no one had wanted. He criticised Cameron for "giving P45s to nurses and six-figure payoffs to managers".
"We know why the NHS is failing: your botched reorganisation, the abolition of NHS Direct, cuts to social care and 6,000 fewer nurses. There's only one person responsible for the A&E crisis and that's you," he said."We know why the NHS is failing: your botched reorganisation, the abolition of NHS Direct, cuts to social care and 6,000 fewer nurses. There's only one person responsible for the A&E crisis and that's you," he said.
Cameron said there were now 20,000 fewer administrative-grade employees in the NHS. "We are saving £4.5bn by reducing the number of managers in our NHS and, for the first time, anyone re-employed has to pay back part of the money they were given."Cameron said there were now 20,000 fewer administrative-grade employees in the NHS. "We are saving £4.5bn by reducing the number of managers in our NHS and, for the first time, anyone re-employed has to pay back part of the money they were given."
He said mixed-sex accommodation on wards was down by 98%, 1.2 million more people were treated in A&E, and the NHS was handling half a million more inpatients. He claimed the government was meeting its A&E targets, adding that the average waiting time was 50 minutes, 20 minutes faster than under Labour.He said mixed-sex accommodation on wards was down by 98%, 1.2 million more people were treated in A&E, and the NHS was handling half a million more inpatients. He claimed the government was meeting its A&E targets, adding that the average waiting time was 50 minutes, 20 minutes faster than under Labour.
"We're doing all of that and we're not following Labour's advice, which was to cut the NHS. That's the truth under this government, the NHS getting better. Labour would have cut it and Labour never stand up for the NHS.""We're doing all of that and we're not following Labour's advice, which was to cut the NHS. That's the truth under this government, the NHS getting better. Labour would have cut it and Labour never stand up for the NHS."
Cameron then turned to Labour's record in Wales. "They have been running the Welsh health service, they cut the budget by 8.5%, they haven't met a cancer target since 2008, they haven't met an A&E target since 2009.Cameron then turned to Labour's record in Wales. "They have been running the Welsh health service, they cut the budget by 8.5%, they haven't met a cancer target since 2008, they haven't met an A&E target since 2009.
"There won't be a winter crisis in the NHS in Wales where Labour is in control because there is a crisis every day of the week in Wales. The fact is, you are too weak to stand up to the poor management of the NHS in Wales, just as you are too weak to sack your health secretary.""There won't be a winter crisis in the NHS in Wales where Labour is in control because there is a crisis every day of the week in Wales. The fact is, you are too weak to stand up to the poor management of the NHS in Wales, just as you are too weak to sack your health secretary."
Miliband accused Cameron of ignoring an A&E crisis that he said had taken hold before the onset of winter, with targets missed for 15 consecutive weeks. "What the whole country will have heard today is a prime minister complacent about the A&E crisis and clueless about what is actually happening in the NHS," he said.Miliband accused Cameron of ignoring an A&E crisis that he said had taken hold before the onset of winter, with targets missed for 15 consecutive weeks. "What the whole country will have heard today is a prime minister complacent about the A&E crisis and clueless about what is actually happening in the NHS," he said.
"What the British people know is the NHS is heading into winter with fewer nurses, a lack of senior A&E doctors and a shortage of beds. You promised you would protect the NHS but it's now clear the NHS isn't safe in your hands.""What the British people know is the NHS is heading into winter with fewer nurses, a lack of senior A&E doctors and a shortage of beds. You promised you would protect the NHS but it's now clear the NHS isn't safe in your hands."
Cameron replied: "Once again you are just wrong on the facts. Let me give you a simple fact – there are more A&E consultants working in A&E than there were five years ago. That is why we're meeting our targets in England and that is why Labour is missing its targets in Wales.Cameron replied: "Once again you are just wrong on the facts. Let me give you a simple fact – there are more A&E consultants working in A&E than there were five years ago. That is why we're meeting our targets in England and that is why Labour is missing its targets in Wales.
"I'm clear my job is to stand up for the NHS and deliver a strong NHS. When are you going to understand your job is to stand up to the bully boys of Unite and show some courage?""I'm clear my job is to stand up for the NHS and deliver a strong NHS. When are you going to understand your job is to stand up to the bully boys of Unite and show some courage?"
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