Lib Dems: Looking to curb "centralised target-setting"

The Liberal Democrats have called for a "radical devolution of power to local people and local health services".

Party leader Charles Kennedy used a morning press conference to explain how he plans to reduce "unacceptable" waiting times.

He also unveiled new research on levels of diagnosis and use of NHS scanners.

The party believes equipment could be put to better use in assessing and treating patients faster.

The Lib Dems are committed to cutting waiting times, but they also want to devolve power away from the Department of Health's centralised target-setting approach.

Kennedy had to drop a commitment to transfer strategic decision-making to elected regional governments after last year's "no" vote in the referendum on creating a North East assembly.

However, he still wants local councils to play a bigger role, while giving doctors and hospital managers a bigger say in how money is spent.

Spending plans

Lib Dem policy has identified spending on MRSA, IT and drugs as unnecessarily high.

Kennedy said that his party would introduce a £350m scheme to speed up diagnosis
of serious illnesses and help 500,000 people on "hidden" NHS waiting lists.

The Lib Dem leader also repeated his promise to use some of the money raised through lifting the top rate of income tax to pay for free long term care for the elderly.

Kennedy said that all parties would have to recognise that an ageing population was going to present new challenges requiring new solutions.

"We will invest in things like low level care for the elderly who may be very frail, and who at the moment receive no care whatsoever," he said.

"They then wind up fracturing their hips and creating an  increased cost on the NHS in terms of acute care.