Cutting frontline services and not bureaucracy could destroy NHS - Lamb

"If we are to make the NHS more efficient, we need to listen to the people who really understand it," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary. Commenting on the leaked Department of Health report calling for 137,000 job cuts in the NHS, Norman Lamb said:

“The huge gap between what ministers say in public and the secret reports being circulated in Whitehall is becoming clearer by the day.

“While this report demonstrates the scope for efficiency savings, cutting frontline services without addressing the goliath of the NHS bureaucracy would have a disastrous impact on patient care and could destroy the service.

“The credibility of outside consultants who have squandered billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money over the last decade must be questioned.

“If we are to make the NHS more efficient, we need to listen to the people who really understand it, not management consultants whose dreadful record of failure is matched only by their over-inflated bills.”

If prisons can serve good food so can hospitals - Lamb

"It’s incredible that so many hospitals are failing to serve healthy meals," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary. Commenting on today’s [Monday 1 September] study from Bournemouth University which reveals people are more likely to go hungry in NHS hospitals than in prison, Norman Lamb said:

“This study highlights the experience of too many patients in NHS hospitals.

“While there is excellent care in many places, there are a lot of examples of what is in effect neglect of vulnerable people.

“It’s incredible that so many hospitals are failing to serve healthy meals. If prisons can serve good food then so can hospitals.”

Government’s policies on drugs failing - Lamb

“These are horrifying statistics. The toll of damage from drugs is immense and the cost to the NHS is enormous," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary. Commenting on today’s ONS statistics which reveal that deaths from drug overdoses are at an eight year high, Norman Lamb said:

“These are horrifying statistics. The toll of damage from drugs is immense and the cost to the NHS is enormous.

“The Government’s punitive policies and heavy-handed rhetoric on drugs are failing. Ministers must make sure that schools and public services work together to make sure that the message gets out that drugs kill.

“Ministers have been very good at talking tough when it comes to drugs, but this isn’t working. They must urgently re-think their strategy before even more lives are lost.”

Stop smoking money being wasted - Lamb

"The Government is wasting NHS resources which are vitally needed to save lives," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary. Commenting on reports that the number of people who stopped smoking with NHS help fell by 4% last year despite the Government spending 21% more money on helping people quit, Norman Lamb said:

“The Government is wasting NHS resources which are vitally needed to save lives.

“It’s extraordinary that more money is being spent for worse outcomes.

“The incentive system for doctors has to be urgently changed. GPs shouldn’t be paid just for referring people to stop smoking services, they should be paid for helping them to successfully quit.”

Lamb: Government sleepwalking into an NHS disaster

In his speech to the NHS Confederation Norman Lamb discusses the need for a fundamental change to the way the NHS currently works.

The Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, will accuse the Government of ignoring the scale of the dangers facing the NHS and discuss the need for a new approach.

He will also say that this can only be achieved by devolving accountability and financial responsibility to a local level and by empowering patients and the NHS workforce.

In his speech Norman will say; "We are facing the lull before the storm. The last decade has been the years of plenty. We supported the Government with a programme of increased investment in public services."