Kennedy unveils plans for the NHS

8.59.40pm GMT Sun 30th Jan 2005

Charles Kennedy, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, has outlined the broad framework for Liberal Democrat health policy, unveiling new thinking on diagnostics, following research undertaken by the Lib Dem Health team.

In a key note speech to Liberal Democrat activists at Westminster, Mr Kennedy established a new priority to get rid of 'hidden' waiting lists for patient diagnosis.

He said that some people are waiting up to a year for scans and tests to find out what is wrong with them after they are referred by a doctor. The true scale of the problem remains hidden because the Government won't collect data on these diagnostic waiting lists.

On hidden waiting lists, Mr. Kennedy said:

"The big problem with centrally imposed political targets is that what gets measured gets done. But as hospitals are forced to meet a target to reduce maximum waiting times, the result is other patients wait longer. This is what has happened in diagnostics, which directly affect thousands of people each day.

"Put yourself in the place of one of those patients. Your GP has decided you may have a serious, perhaps life-threatening, condition. But if you can't afford to go private - six months - a year later - you are still waiting to find out what is wrong - which means no treatment has started.

"It should be the policy of any party dedicated to our 'national health' to ensure that illnesses are diagnosed by the quickest route possible so that treatment can start soonest. A Liberal Democrat Government would make this a very high priority indeed. We would make sure the NHS starts treating you as soon as possible by pledging the swiftest diagnosis that can be sensibly, efficiently and affordably introduced."

On NHS Reform Mr. Kennedy outlined plans to create a quality local NHS, free of Whitehall targets:

"The priority for rebuilding the health of the NHS, and rebuilding the health of the nation, is not a matter of resources alone. It means doing things differently.

"Labour's instinctive statism and targets are retarding the ability of NHS Trusts to deliver services tailored to meet local needs. As one Primary Care Trust Chief Executive, said bluntly "Our money goes on things we have targets for." Targets get hit but the point is missed.

"Of course, Government must retain overall responsibility for setting the broad framework for the NHS - for performance measures, collecting data, auditing and minimum standards of care. But it should relinquish its current role in defining national targets that create such distortions. It should also relax its grip, trust the professionals to use their judgement and allow the maximum scope for design and delivery of services locally.

"To aid this we would slim down the central government functions. We will abolish Strategic Health Authorities and reduce the number of arms' length bodies which inspect and monitor NHS organisations. We will plough the resultant savings back into frontline care.

"Reformed, reinvigorated local government would have the mandate to determine health priorities: councillors identifying the health needs of local people and commissioning services that meet those needs.

"It is this commitment to accountability in healthcare that marks Liberal Democrats out from our opponents."

Other health policies Mr. Kennedy outlined include:

Free personal care for the elderly

Boosting recruitment and improving retention of doctors, nurses and clinical staff.

A wide preventative health agenda including free eye and dental checks for all and targeted health 'MOTs' that expand screening to catch diseases early.

Integrating NHS and social care at local level with individual 'Personal Care Plans' for those with long-term illnesses.