Conference Defeat Highlights Labour's Flawed NHS Plans - Webb

6.04.45pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 29th Sep 2005

Steve Webb MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, responding to the debate at the Labour Party conference on the NHS, said:

"The flaw in Labour's approach to the NHS is that they talk about competition and survival of the fittest but at the same time they subsidise the private sector to encourage private hospitals to do work for the NHS.

"The NHS does need to become more efficient. But it is a waste of taxpayers' money to pay the private sector over the odds to do something the NHS could do anyway.

"The NHS needs reform, but Labour's market driven reforms will pit hospitals against each other, forcing some hospitals to wither on the vine. The priority needs to be promoting co-operation to drive up standards, and increasing accountability at a local level."