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Wales NHS reputation dragged 'through the mud' Wales NHS reputation dragged 'through the mud'
(34 minutes later)
Health Minister Mark Drakeford has launched a stinging attack on the Conservatives for trying to drag the reputation of the Welsh NHS through the mud for "partisan political purposes".Health Minister Mark Drakeford has launched a stinging attack on the Conservatives for trying to drag the reputation of the Welsh NHS through the mud for "partisan political purposes".
UK Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt claimed patients in Wales were getting a "second-class" service.UK Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt claimed patients in Wales were getting a "second-class" service.
Mr Drakeford criticised Mr Hunt for selectively quoting from an unpublished report into NHS services in the UK. But Mr Drakeford criticised Mr Hunt for selectively quoting from an unpublished report into NHS services in the UK.
He accused the Conservatives of telling a "tissue of lies" about health.He accused the Conservatives of telling a "tissue of lies" about health.
First Minister Carwyn Jones has dismissed calls for an inquiry into the running of the NHS in Wales following claims by the Daily Mail the service was in "meltdown".First Minister Carwyn Jones has dismissed calls for an inquiry into the running of the NHS in Wales following claims by the Daily Mail the service was in "meltdown".
Mr Hunt added his voice to the attack on Welsh Labour in response to health questions in the House of Commons on Tuesday.Mr Hunt added his voice to the attack on Welsh Labour in response to health questions in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
He claimed Labour was trying to prevent publication of an independent study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) of the four different NHS systems in the UK, because it would reflect badly on Labour's record in Wales.He claimed Labour was trying to prevent publication of an independent study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) of the four different NHS systems in the UK, because it would reflect badly on Labour's record in Wales.
But Mr Drakeford wrote an angry response, and accused Mr Hunt of attempting to "subvert the process" of publication of an independent report.But Mr Drakeford wrote an angry response, and accused Mr Hunt of attempting to "subvert the process" of publication of an independent report.
Mr Drakeford also wrote to health staff in Wales, and said he was "very proud" of their work. It follows a letter sent by Mr Hunt to Mr Drakeford on Monday.
He warned that political and media attacks would "intensify" in the run up to the general election. 'Deliberate and deceptive'
"The assertion in your letter that you feel you have a right to quote selectively from an unpublished report in the lead up to the General Election is truly shocking - it flies in the face of every principle of the proper conduct of public life," Mr Drakeford wrote.
"Your failure to clearly and openly set out such an intention at the time when the study was commissioned will appear to some to be deliberate and deceptive.
"The NHS in Wales will not be the victim of any Conservative Party ploy to drag its reputation through the mud for entirely partisan political purposes.
"At a time when the four home nations of the UK need to be working closely together address the threat of Ebola, your willingness to put the interests of your party above those of the public is especially reprehensible."
Mr Drakeford said he intended to publish Mr Hunt's letter to him, saying it was "grossly discourteous" that it had already been given to the media and a backbench Conservative MP by the time it arrived at his office.
In a second letter, to health staff in Wales, Mr Drakeford said he was "very proud" of their work, adding that political and media attacks would "intensify" in the run-up to the general election.
"It saddens me to see our NHS used in this way," he wrote, warning of the "potentially damaging impact" on morale."It saddens me to see our NHS used in this way," he wrote, warning of the "potentially damaging impact" on morale.
Mark Drakeford letter to Jeremy Hunt Defending Welsh Labour's running of the NHS during First Minister's Questions on Tuesday, Carwyn Jones admitted the health service had its difficulties, but he said he was not prepared to "play politics" with people's health.
Dear Mr Hunt,
I write in reply to your letter of yesterday's date. As a direct result of it, this is a final request for you to adhere to the normal conventions surrounding the publication of independent reports and end your attempts to subvert the process. If you do not, we will have to consider commissioning and publishing our own independent study by the OECD in a way which does not risk contamination by the overt politicisation of the process for which you are directly responsible.
The assertion in your letter that you feel you have a right to quote selectively from an unpublished report in the lead up to the General Election is truly shocking - it flies in the face of every principle of the proper conduct of public life. Your failure to clearly and openly set out such an intention at the time when the study was commissioned will appear to some to be deliberate and deceptive.
The NHS in Wales will not be the victim of any Conservative Party ploy to drag its reputation through the mud for entirely partisan political purposes.
At a time when the four home nations of the UK need to be working closely together address the threat of Ebola, your willingness to put the interests of your party above those of the public is especially reprehensible.
By the time your letter, marked Official-Sensitive, arrived at my office, it had already been handed to one of your backbench MPs and to the London media. That was grossly discourteous and demeaning of the office you are privileged to hold. As it has already been used to augment the tissue of lies which are told on behalf of your party, you will not surprised that I have decided that this letter too will be available for publication.
I am copying this letter to Alex Neil MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing at the Scottish Government, Jim Wells MLA, Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety at the Northern Ireland Executive and Stephen Crabb MP, the Secretary of State for Wales.
Yours Sincerely,
Mark Drakeford
Minister for Health and Social Services