Top Tory's Pledge on NHS Reforms

The Shadow Health Minister promised sweeping reforms of the NHS during a visit to the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Andrew Lansley told doctors, nurses and managers that a Tory government would scrap performance targets and give hospitals greater independence.

Speaking after being given a tour of the hospitalrs trauma ward and coronary care unit, Mr Lansley said:

lWe need to give the NHS greater freedom from central government.

lStaff should be empowered with the resources they need to deliver better outcomes for patients.

lThey are the professionals on the frontline whose judgement we should trust and who should be given greater freedom to manage themselvesr

Mr Lansley said he was impressed with the progress the hospital had made since his last visit four years ago, citing as an example a reduction in mortality rates in patients suffering hip fractures.

And he repeated the Conservatives mantra that people needed to take more individual responsibility for their health. He said: lPeople are constantly told that the state will do this and that for them when quiet frankly it canrt do all of those things. You make services available but people also need to recognise itrs their own responsibility to use them.

Deborah Dunleavy, the Conservative prospective MP for BoltonNE, who had invited Mr Lansley to Bolton said:

lThe message Andrew wanted to get across was our belief that the emphasis should no longer be on targets, but on outcomes and allowing doctors the freedom to do what they think best for the patientr