Prime Minister Tony Blair has defended the government's record on the health service, saying he is confident the UK's spending on health will reach the European average within five years.

In fierce exchanges with Tory leader William Hague in the Commons, the prime minister said he was confident he would be able to increase spending on the NHS by 5% in real terms over the next five years.

Mr Blair was referring to comments he had made on BBC One's Breakfast with Frost on Sunday when he said NHS spending should match that of other EU countries in five years.

During prime minister's questions, he said: "I am entirely confident we will get those 5% real-term rises."

But the Treasury has made clear the proposal is an "aspiration" not a "pledge" and is dependent on the state of the economy.

Mr Hague accused the prime minister of simply talking "waffle" instead of clarifying the extent of Labour's commitment to a spending plan that according to some estimates could cost an extra £11bn over six years.

"Today, we have seen that what you said on Sunday was not an announcement of money to get the health service through the next five years, it was a piece of rhetoric to get you through the next five days," Mr Hague said.

He told MPs: "We now have a country where crime is up, waiting lists are up, the NHS is in crisis, police numbers have fallen.

"Things under Labour are getting worse. Doesn't Britain deserve better than that?"

Mr Hague accused Mr Blair of "blinkered ... hostility" towards private health care and that every government in Europe believed in improving health care through other sources.

On Tuesday, Mr Hague wrote to Mr Blair calling for a "non-partisan" cross-party initiative to solve the problems of the NHS.

The prime minister said the government was prepared to work with the private sector, as was shown with the private finance initiative.

Mr Blair went on to accuse the opposition leader of having "zero judgement" on health policy.

He continued: "Your policies are a joke.

"Your party is divided and that is one reason why this country will never trust the Tories with the health service again."

'Who is in charge?'

Mr Blair said the pay award announced on Monday would help recruit and retain nurses. There had been a 24% increase in those starting training as a result of last year's increase, he added.

The Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy called for the government to halt its planned penny-in-the pound cut in income tax, due to take effect in the coming Budget. He said the money raised should be earmarked on the NHS.

Later, in an exchange of letters, Mr Blair wrote to Mr Hague: "As your party moves further to the right, it is now clearer than ever that the post-war consensus on the NHS has broken down.

"The choice people will face at the next election is between privatisation with the Conservatives and modernisation with Labour."

In turn, Tory health spokesman Liam Fox wrote to Health Secretary Alan Milburn: "It seems there is chaos within government over this issue. Who is in charge?"