Lansley challenges Labour to match NHS spending commitment

Andrew Lansley has called on the Government to come clean about their spending plans after it was revealed that the NHS has been asked to plan for efficiency savings of £15-20 billion against its 2010-11 budget.

The Department of Health has refused to confirm whether these savings will be available for reinvestment in the NHS - if they are not, it will equate to a real terms annual cut to the NHS budget of 2.3 per cent.

Andrew, the Shadow Health Secretary, said, “NHS staff and patients have an urgent need to know whether Labour will match the Conservative commitment to real terms increases in NHS spending after 2011.”

“If Labour will not match our commitment, then these ‘efficiency savings’ are hypocritical and code for ‘cuts’.”

Andrew stressed, “We are determined to drive greater efficiency in the NHS and we welcome any genuine savings but these will be reinvested in the NHS as we increase health spending year by year. At the moment it sounds disturbingly like Labour are planning to cut the NHS budget.”