Conservatives have accused the Government of "manipulating" National Health Service boards for political gain.

John Maples says Labour councillors are replacing independents

The Shadow Health Secretary, John Maples, said the NHS was being politicised by the appointment of Labour supporters to key posts on health boards and trusts.

He said the Health Secretary, Frank Dobson, was guilty of flouting the Nolan Committee code of practice on standards in public life.

Mr Dobson strongly denies the allegations, saying he just wants boards to be more representative of the people they serve.

Frank Dobson says he is not trying to kick Tories off NHS boards (5'40")

Mr Maples has written to the Independent Commissioner for Public Appointments calling for an independent inquiry.

John Maples: Five cases highlighted in dossier

"This is a Government that has piously preached the virtues of openness and accountability whilst embarking on a cynical campaign of backstairs gerrymandering in our health service boards," said Mr Maples.

Appointments emerged from a "secret cabal" rather than all-party consultations, he added.

Mr Maples said that in 70% of appointments, Conservative group leaders were not consulted about their council's nominations to NHS boards.

In the dossier he sent to the Commissioner, Sir Leonard Peach, Mr Maples raised concerns over five specific of appointments made since Labour came to power in May.

All of these involved long-standing businesspeople being replaced on boards by Labour MPs or councillors.

He added: "The health service needs people with experience of running large organisations. People who have given years of service to our hospitals are being summarily dismissed over the telephone.

"Hospitals need good management. They are not a pork barrel for Labour councillors who have little or no relevant experience."

But Mr Dobson denied he sought to oust Conservatives from NHS boards and described one charge against him as a "plain, straightforward lie."

He told BBC Radio: "I'm not interested in replacing Tory deadheads with Labour deadheads.

"What I want is first-rate people and I want to increase the proportion of women."

Mr Dobson defended his replacements, pointing out their experience in the NHS and related fields.

He said his aim was only to make boards more representative and to get the numbers of women equal to those of men.

"We are trying to break down the Berlin Wall between social services and the health service."

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©