Michael Howard, after making a speech on
MRSA at a Kent hospital
(PA/EMPICS)
What do the parties say?
Labour says that patients will be able to choose their NHS hospital,
and promises an end to the ‘cut price’ private cleaning contracts
that are blamed for dirty wards. Government targets are seen as
crucial for pushing through improvement, with the pledge that
by 2008 nobody will have to wait longer than 18 weeks for hospital
treatment.
The Tories agree that patients should be able to choose their
hospital, but also say that patients should have the option of
taking 50% of the cost of the NHS operation price to go private.
They say that they will support matrons to keep hospitals MRSA
free. They differ from Labour on targets, though. The Conservatives
argue that Whitehall targets are counterproductive, and promise
to scrap them.
The Liberal Democrats take a different tack, arguing that people
want free healthcare close by, not long lists of hospitals to
choose from. They also pledge to pump more money into the NHS
to fund free eye tests and dental checks, and more free prescriptions.
And they say that they would increase efficiency by cutting middle
management. |
