NHS SPENDING MUST NOT BE WASTED ON MORE CENTRALISED BUREAUCRACY - LAMB

5.28.13pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 9th Oct 2007

Commenting on the spending plans for the NHS outlined in today's Comprehensive Spending Review, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb MP said: "Despite years of rising investment, the NHS has still managed to rack up nationwide debts and cut jobs, all while health inequality widened."

"The Government's poor record on health spending doesn't exactly inspire confidence that things will improve in the NHS."

"With less extra money coming in, the Government cannot afford to continue wasting it on centralised bureaucracy and contradictory reform. How much of this money will actually reach the front line of patient care?"

"There is still no answer to the mess over funding of elderly care. The Government has failed to address the terrible unfairness of people losing everything as result of personal care costs."