Johnson bids to reclaim NHS for Labour

The health secretary has told the Labour conference that the NHS "encapsulates" the party's values.

Alan Johnson argued in a speech to delegates at the annual gathering in Bournemouth that: "No single institution has done more to promote social justice in the past or possesses greater potential to transform our society in the future."

Having seen his party's trust ratings on health issues fall, the cabinet minister contrasted what he claims is Labour's natural affinity with the NHS with the Conservatives' stance.

He attacked the Tories' opposition to reforms as showing "how unfit to govern the Conservative Party has become".

"Their shabby and dishonest campaign for a moratorium on saving lives demeans those who promote it," Johnson said.

"It also betrays the doctors and consultants who propose such change in the interests of their patients.

"It will be this party that presides over its continued renaissance and it will be this party, led by Gordon Brown, that continues to build an NHS fit for the 21st century."

Staff

Ahead of the results of a review from surgeon and junior health minister Lord Darzi, Johnson said that the NHS needs to continue its evolution towards a personalised service in which patients can access services when and where they want.

However seeking to regain the support of NHS staff, Johnson insisted that this is an "unprecedented opportunity" to shape a service which is "clinically-led and locally-driven".

And he announced new protections for doctors and nurses against abuse from the public.

"We know there is no more important resource for the NHS than the staff who work for it," he said.

"But too many suffer harassment, intimidation and violence. To give greater protection, we will issue personal safety alarms to those NHS staff who need them as part of a £97m boost to the NHS security budget.

"This will ensure that we have better security in hospitals and that we improve the training we give to staff to deal with aggressive behaviour.

"I can also announce today that this money will allow us to increase the number of prosecutions against those who assault staff.

"Anybody who abuses our staff must face tough action and the possibility of jail."

'Superbugs'

Johnson unveiled new measures to prevent the spread of diseases such as MRSA and C.difficile within hospitals.

"Today I am setting out how we will equip the new regulator with tougher powers, backed by fines, to inspect, investigate and intervene where hospitals are failing to meet hygiene standards," he said.

"And this tough regime will not just apply across the NHS but in the private sector as well.

"To ensure patients' safety, I want a regulator with the power to close, clean and then reopen wards if necessary."

Earlier Johnson fleshed out plans for the 'deep cleaning' of hospitals to tackle so-called superbugs.

"We have already had a lot of success in reducing the incidence of MRSA. We have a target of reducing it by 50 per cent - I want to get it down to zero," he told GMTV.

"There are hospitals who manage that, and I think deep clean will make an important contribution."