NHS review: more centralisation from Brown

Bedford Lib Dem parliamentary candidate, Henry Vann has criticised the Labour peer Lord Darzi's NHS "next stage review" in which new plans were set out for the health service.

The review made little mention of mental health service provision and no mention of addressing health inequalities - something of particular relevance to Bedford as the recent health observatory report pointed to a seven year life expectancy gap between wealthy areas and poorer areas of the borough.

The Liberal Democrats have welcomed the intent behind the review. A patient- and quality-driven service is clearly needed, but greater centralised control and a lack of real accountability will not achieve this.

Henry Vann said: "I welcome the intention behind the review of the NHS, but I was disappointed to see so little mention of so many key problem areas for the NHS"

"The recent health observatory report has shown that health inequalities are a real challenge facing Bedford; yet Lord Darzi's review hardly mentions the issue. Local accountability would see this issue challenged and dealt with."

"In this statement, Labour has shown that it would continue to let down Kingsbrook, Cauldwell, Queen's Park and Castle wards in the constituency I want to represent."

"Lord Darzi seems to have missed the point of local accountability. Centralised control simply cannot deal with the needs of local people. We need a health service that is locally accountable, and allows the medical staff to get on with their jobs without centralised, unresponsive control."

"Not only is Brown's government maintaining their centralising agenda, but they do so at the expense of patient needs and staff concerns."