NHS future must put patients before politics. - Randerson

2.36.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 10th Oct 2008

Jenny's document will set a debate on future health policy

Growing political interference in the Welsh NHS and the triple challenge of an aging population, ever more expensive treatments and rising expectations, will take centre stage at the Welsh Lib Dem conference on Sunday.

Welsh Liberal Democrat health spokesperson, Jenny Randerson, will be leading a wide ranging discussion on health, looking for the ideas that will set the agenda for the future of the NHS in Wales. Speaking ahead of a debate on the consultative paper - A Health Service Fit for the Future - Jenny Randerson said:

"The Health Minister's recent politicisation of the NHS poses great challenges for our health system. This socialist, one-size fits all model will be dangerous and ineffective. No one individual should have such unprecedented power within the health service. Also, by totally ignoring the views of the many people and professional organisations who contributed to the Minister's consultation, she has significantly undermined any future consultation on health issues.

"People want more treatment at the heart of the NHS, not more Hart as the treatment for the NHS.

"We have just celebrated 60 years of the NHS - and politicians of all parties are proud of the great role it plays in Welsh life. But the NHS will not survive the next 60 years if we do not face up to the triple challenge on the horizon. We are faced with an aging population, an escalating ability to cure disease and sustain life, and rising levels of expectation from the public.

"The Labour-Plaid government in Wales has put the emphasis on treats instead of treatment. We have to accept that the years of massive increases in health expenditure are behind us. Sadly, while improvements have been made, the health service has headed in the wrong direction.

"How can we buy Beechams for millionaires when there are people dying because the NHS will not pay for their drugs? How is that right? How is that fair?

"How much carrot and how much stick should we use to keep staff that have trained in Wales, working in Wales? "Should we move to a system of salaried GPs, or persist with the system where they are private contractors to the NHS? These are the many questions that will be put out to party members, health professionals and all involved and affected by our NHS.

"Unlike the Health Minister, I will listen to the consultation responses and use the views of party members and responses to form a set of draft policy proposals that will set us up for the challenging years ahead.

"As Welsh Liberal Democrats, we have never been scared to shy away from reform and this is what the consultation is all about. It's about making policy fit for the future to deliver a National Health Service Fit for the Future."

Notes: The Consultation paper will be debated at Welsh Conference on October 12 in Swansea. A formal set of policy proposals will emerge from that discussion, to be debated in the Spring.