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NHS market mania could increase waiting times - Webb

12.03.25am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 5th Aug 2005

Steve Webb MP

Responding to the publication of the King's Fund report, "The War on Waiting for Hospital Treatment", Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Steve Webb MP said:

"This welcome report highlights the fact that achieving further progress on reducing waiting times needs careful planning and the maximum use of existing capacity.

"There is a danger that the "market mania" in the modern NHS will actually increase waiting times.

"Shopping around by patients makes it hard for hospitals to plan carefully or make best use of precious resources.

"Record amounts of cash are being injected into the health service, and yet many NHS Trusts are in financial difficulty. When the cash tap is finally turned off, this situation will get worse and a financial crisis could undermine further progress on waiting times."

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