HEALTH SECRETARY'S SPEECH SMACKS OF GIMMICKRY - LAMB

12.27.43pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 25th Sep 2007

Responding to Alan Johnson's speech today to the Labour party conference, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb MP said: "The announcements in Alan Johnson's speech smack of gimmickry and re-spun policy. He has failed to answer the fundamental question of where Gordon Brown is taking the NHS."

"The Health Secretary has not explained how more personalised care will be delivered or what the role of the private sector will be in delivering it."

"As the extra NHS spending comes to an end this year, we mustn't forget that Gordon Brown is the man who spent billions more on the health service only to see stinging deficits and worsened productivity."