Brown attacks Tory NHS plans

NHS funds could be used in the private sector

Conservative plans for giving patients more choice over where they get their treatment would take £2bn out of NHS funds, Chancellor Gordon Brown is claiming.

The estimate comes from Treasury calculations of the cost of the Tories' "patients' passports", Mr Brown will tell the Transport and General Workers Union.

Tory shadow chancellor Michael Howard has branded the claims about his party's plans "lies" and says the scheme is about providing a "fair deal" for NHS patients.

They are planning to do what Mrs Thatcher would not dare

Gordon Brown

The chancellor instead says only those using private healthcare will benefit and in his speech he will predict the issue will dominate the next election campaign.

Mr Brown's visit to the TGWU conference in Brighton comes after the union's outgoing leader attacked the government's own health plans.

Sir Bill Morris said plans for foundation hospitals, with more freedom from Whitehall control, would lead to an "enormous expansion" of private patients in the health service.

But Sir Bill has also warned union delegates not to "reclaim" Labour in a way which handed power to the Conservatives.

Extreme?

The Tories say their "patients' passport" would entitle people to have their treatment paid for at any NHS hospital.

The scheme would also allow patients to take "all or part of the cost of their NHS treatment to the voluntary or private hospital of their choice".

Brown 'is trying to win union backing for leadership ambitions'

Mr Brown is expected to brand the idea the most extreme policy seen since the NHS was established in the 1940s.

He will say: "The Tories are committed to NHS cuts and subsidies for the private sector.

"They call their voucher scheme a patients' passport. We know it's a passport to private medicine, vouchers and charges.

"Where we believe in an NHS free to all at the point of need, they want to make people pay...

"Where we believe in investment, they would use vital resources to expand the private sector."

Mr Brown says new hospital building would have to be stopped and operations cancelled if the plans were implemented.

He will add: "They are planning to do what Mrs Thatcher would not dare - tearing up what has been a 50 year national consensus on Britain's NHS.

"This is a choice which will define our campaign for the next election."

'Fairer'

But the Tories have accused the government of failing to improve the NHS despite billions of pounds of extra taxpayers' money being pumped into the service.

Shadow chancellor Mr Howard said Mr Brown's speech had more to do with internal Labour politics than healthcare.

He said: "Labour's claims on the patient's passport are lies. It just goes to show you can't believe a word Labour says any more.

"The Conservatives' priority is to deliver a fair deal for NHS patients.

"We think reforms such as the patient's passport will offer the vision of a truly world class health service for the British people.

"By contrast, Gordon Brown's priority is to buddy up to his union paymasters to win their backing for any leadership bid.

"This is the second speech within seven days where Gordon Brown has attacked healthcare reform before a union audience. Clearly he wants their money and their votes."