Tories focus on hospital hygiene

The Tories say they can end waiting lists

Hospital matrons would get new powers to tackle the "scandal" of the MRSA superbug, under new Tory proposals.

Matrons would be able to over-rule hospital bosses to close dirty wards to ensure hygiene has a higher priority than chasing central treatment targets.

The Conservatives also say waiting lists can be abolished, and would allow private patients to claim back half the cost of the equivalent NHS treatment.

Labour and the Lib Dems both criticised plans to "subsidise" private patients.

Tory leader Michael Howard's mother-in-law was one of the more than 5,000 people who die from hospital acquired infections each year. The problem costs the NHS £1bn annually.

'Action needed'

On Wednesday, Mr Howard said hospital acquired infections were "a scandal unique in Europe" and that they caused a greater risk of dying than being killed in a road accident.

The government says there are already about 3,000 matrons on hospital wards.

Their manifesto introduces the concept of charges for basic operations for the first time in the NHS John Hutton Health Minister At-a-glance: Tory health plans Reaction to the Tory plans In full: Howard speech

However, the Tories argue Labour's plans allow neither chief nursing officers nor matrons to shut down dirty wards - saying that 12% of decisions to close wards on hygiene grounds were over-ruled by hospital managers.

The Tories' manifesto proposes giving matrons responsibility for providing clean and infection-free wards and operating theatres.

Local infection teams would work with the matron and have the authority to shut dirty wards where there were superbug outbreaks.

Mr Howard said: "Mr Blair is prepared to sit idly by while thousands more patients die from infections they have picked up in hospital."

But the prime minister told Five's Wright Stuff show: "If they want to shut the ward because the ward's a threat to the patients, of course they have the power to do that."

A Department of Health spokeswoman said matrons had the power to recommend ward closures but the hospital chief executive had the final decision as they could consider the needs of the whole system.

Patient choice

On his broader health plans, Mr Howard promised the Tories would increase NHS spending by £34bn a year by the end of the first term of a Conservative government.

All patients would have a choice of treatment at any hospital - NHS or independent - which met health service standards at NHS costs.

They could also use half the NHS cost of an operation to help go private completely.

Mr Howard said people who took up the offer would clear space in the NHS - and had paid their taxes for healthcare.

'Queue jumping'

He predicted the changes will make "waiting lists a thing of the past" - saying that people were dying because of current government targets.

Labour says the Tories would use NHS money to help private patients "jump the queue" in a system where "money talks".

Pointing to the subsidy plan, health minister John Hutton said: "Their manifesto introduces the concept of charges for basic operations for the first time in the NHS."

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Paul Burstow said: "When Michael Howard talks about choice it is choice for the few and long waits for the rest.

"Subsidising private treatment for those who can afford it will cost the NHS £1.2bn before a single extra operation is ever performed."