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Jeremy Hunt: Wales 'sleepwalking to Mid Staffs tragedy' Jeremy Hunt: Wales 'sleepwalking to Mid Staffs tragedy'
(35 minutes later)
UK Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has launched his strongest attack on the NHS in Wales claiming it is "sleepwalking to a Mid Staffs tragedy".UK Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has launched his strongest attack on the NHS in Wales claiming it is "sleepwalking to a Mid Staffs tragedy".
Speaking at the Welsh Conservatives spring conference in Llangollen, Mr Hunt criticised Wales' record on waiting times and ambulance targets.Speaking at the Welsh Conservatives spring conference in Llangollen, Mr Hunt criticised Wales' record on waiting times and ambulance targets.
It comes on the day a key report says NHS funding cuts may be behind longer waiting times but says Wales is not lagging behind the rest of the UK.It comes on the day a key report says NHS funding cuts may be behind longer waiting times but says Wales is not lagging behind the rest of the UK.
Mr Hunt admitted things can go wrong.Mr Hunt admitted things can go wrong.
"In a system as big and complex as the NHS things do go wrong," he told the conference."In a system as big and complex as the NHS things do go wrong," he told the conference.
"But if you ignore the evidence when individual problems pile up, if you stick your head in the sand and pretend all will be fine... well, that's exactly what happened at Mid Staffs under the last Labour government in England."But if you ignore the evidence when individual problems pile up, if you stick your head in the sand and pretend all will be fine... well, that's exactly what happened at Mid Staffs under the last Labour government in England.
'Tragedy''Tragedy'
"And that is what the Labour government in Cardiff is risking right now in Wales," the UK health secretary said."And that is what the Labour government in Cardiff is risking right now in Wales," the UK health secretary said.
"They are sleepwalking into a Welsh Mid Staffs tragedy and unless we shout loud enough - alongside brave campaigners like Ann Clwyd, Gareth Williams and others who tragically lost loved ones in Welsh hospitals - these appalling lapses in care will repeat themselves time after time.""They are sleepwalking into a Welsh Mid Staffs tragedy and unless we shout loud enough - alongside brave campaigners like Ann Clwyd, Gareth Williams and others who tragically lost loved ones in Welsh hospitals - these appalling lapses in care will repeat themselves time after time."
It is not the first time Mr Hunt has criticised the NHS in Wales.It is not the first time Mr Hunt has criticised the NHS in Wales.
In February, he claimed patients were suffering because Labour Welsh ministers were not investigating high death rates in hospitals.In February, he claimed patients were suffering because Labour Welsh ministers were not investigating high death rates in hospitals.
Mr Hunt called it a "tragedy" that the Welsh NHS was not adopting reforms introduced in England since the Stafford Hospital scandal.Mr Hunt called it a "tragedy" that the Welsh NHS was not adopting reforms introduced in England since the Stafford Hospital scandal.
Since he made the statement a new version of Welsh hospital death rates has been published, which takes into account differences between Wales and England.Since he made the statement a new version of Welsh hospital death rates has been published, which takes into account differences between Wales and England.
'Growing stronger''Growing stronger'
Figures from six hospitals with above-average death rates are being reviewed by an independent expert, to establish whether they need further investigation.Figures from six hospitals with above-average death rates are being reviewed by an independent expert, to establish whether they need further investigation.
Mr Hunt told the conference: "If Labour in Wales refuses to protect the NHS budget - as our long term economic plan has enabled us to do in England - choosing instead to cut the NHS in Wales by nearly £1 billion over 5 years - they must at least face up to the consequences," Mr Hunt told the conference. Mr Hunt told the conference the Welsh government's record on the NHS is "morally indefensible" and said patients and health care workers are being let down by "Labour's mismanagement".
He added: "If Labour in Wales refuses to protect the NHS budget - as our long term economic plan has enabled us to do in England - choosing instead to cut the NHS in Wales by nearly £1 billion over five years - they must at least face up to the consequences," Mr Hunt told the conference.
"And if Carwyn Jones doesn't want to listen to patients, he should at least listen to the anguished voices of his own doctors and nurses," he added."And if Carwyn Jones doesn't want to listen to patients, he should at least listen to the anguished voices of his own doctors and nurses," he added.
Shadow Welsh Health Minister Darren Millar is combining criticism of the performance of the health service in Wales with new policy announcements in his speech.Shadow Welsh Health Minister Darren Millar is combining criticism of the performance of the health service in Wales with new policy announcements in his speech.
Later Prime Minister David Cameron will say the Conservatives' long-term economic plan is working and that Wales is now the "UK capital for jobs growth".Later Prime Minister David Cameron will say the Conservatives' long-term economic plan is working and that Wales is now the "UK capital for jobs growth".
He will tell the Welsh Conservative conference Wales has seen the fastest increase in employment compared with other parts of the UK in the last year.He will tell the Welsh Conservative conference Wales has seen the fastest increase in employment compared with other parts of the UK in the last year.
The employment rate rose 2.1% between the three months to January 2013 and the three months to January 2014.The employment rate rose 2.1% between the three months to January 2013 and the three months to January 2014.
Mr Cameron will say he has a vision of "Wales growing stronger and richer".Mr Cameron will say he has a vision of "Wales growing stronger and richer".
He is also expected to confront claims he is conducting a "war on Wales" to win English seats at the general election.He is also expected to confront claims he is conducting a "war on Wales" to win English seats at the general election.
'Jam and cream''Jam and cream'
On Thursday, Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies visited a supermarket in Barry, to underline policies intended to keep more money in people's pockets, including freezing council taxes and scrapping stamp duty for all properties worth up to £250,000 in Wales.On Thursday, Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies visited a supermarket in Barry, to underline policies intended to keep more money in people's pockets, including freezing council taxes and scrapping stamp duty for all properties worth up to £250,000 in Wales.
He took a turn on the checkout and added jam and cream to a sponge for the television cameras.He took a turn on the checkout and added jam and cream to a sponge for the television cameras.
Mr Davies, who is due to speak in Llangollen on Saturday, rejected Labour's claim that Conservative criticism of the performance of the Welsh NHS amounted to an attack on Wales.Mr Davies, who is due to speak in Llangollen on Saturday, rejected Labour's claim that Conservative criticism of the performance of the Welsh NHS amounted to an attack on Wales.
"All we're doing is highlighting some of the problems that many people are facing in our Welsh NHS, but that's not because of the hard work and dedication of the staff within the NHS," he said."All we're doing is highlighting some of the problems that many people are facing in our Welsh NHS, but that's not because of the hard work and dedication of the staff within the NHS," he said.
"That's because of the policies and in particular the swingeing cuts that Carwyn Jones has put into the NHS budget here in Wales.""That's because of the policies and in particular the swingeing cuts that Carwyn Jones has put into the NHS budget here in Wales."