Conservative words on the NHS can't match Labour's solid financial investment in the health service over the last 12 years, Unite, the largest union in the country, said today (Monday, 5 October)
Unite also said that Conservative health spokesman, Andrew Lansley 'had failed to come clean on the party's hidden agenda for the health service', when he addressed the Conservative Party conference today.
Unite Assistant General Secretary for the Public Sector, Gail Cartmail said: 'The Department of Health's budget stands at a record £109bn for this financial year – eight per cent up on the previous year.'
'Andrew Lansley made great play on cutting waste in the NHS bureaucracy in his speech. However, he seems to forget that all organisations need skilled technical and administrative structures to plan and facilitate services, so that patients and clients receive first-class treatment in a timely fashion.'
'And then there is the right-wing anti-NHS ideology being peddled by Tory MEP, Daniel Hannan and his supporters.'
'Andrew Lansley had an excellent opportunity today to repudiate Daniel Hannan and all his works – but he flunked it big-time.'
'The British electorate is still unclear about the Conservatives' commitment to a universal NHS, free at the point of delivery, to all those in need. That's not something you can say about the Labour government – which has backed its commitment to the health service with hard cash year-on-year.'
