Blair attacks Tory ‘charges’ for hospital operations
Tony Blair has launched a national petition to oppose Tory plans to introduce charges for hospital operations.
Speaking at a London press conference on Labour health policies this morning, the Prime Minister claimed the Conservatives would “govern in the interests of a privileged few at the expense of the hard working majority”.
Under Labour, no patient would have to wait more than 18 weeks from seeing their GP to having their operation or treatment.
The Tories would abandon the principle of the NHS being free at the point of user, replacing it with cuts to NHS budgets and charges for hospital operations.
This would result in the few, with the money to afford to pay for faster operations, would take priority in the health care system, according to Mr Blair.
Responding to the Prime Minister’s criticism, Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley accused Mr Blair of having ‘lost touch’ of the issues that matter to the British public.
He insisted there was “no question” of a Conservative Government introducing new charges to the NHS.
Mr Lansley accused Labour of “negative” campaigning and denied claims the policy was “illegal” were “without foundation”.
He clarified, “the Right to Choose policy means that the NHS and private sectors would work together to cut Labour’s one million plus waiting lists faster.
NHS patients will have the Right to Choose from any hospital that provides treatment at NHS standards and NHS cost. This treatment will be free.”
The exchange came on the day that Labour and the Conservatives focused their campaign on health, with Andrew Lansley earlier issuing an apology for misleading figures on MRSA. Tony Blair accused the Conservatives of running a “nasty and unscrupulous” campaign.
