Tory danger for NHS's world beater rating - Burnham

Tory danger for NHS's world beater rating - Burnham

International survey of frontline doctors rates NHS top for specialist waiting times

Andy Burnham MP, Labour's Health Secretary, slammed the Tories' pledge to scrap cancer treatment guarantees whilst commenting on news that an international survey announced this morning has ranked the NHS a world beater.

The Commonwealth Fund survey of frontline doctors in 11 countries ranked the UK as 1st in short waiting times for specialist care and quality of clinical care.  

The Tories have pledged to scrap Labour Government guarantees that anyone with suspected cancer will see a specialist within two weeks, and Labour's pledge to introduce a new right to cancer diagnostic tests, with results, within one week.

Andy Burnham MP said:

"This is fantastic news for the NHS and a worthy recognition of the professionalism of NHS staff, but it also shows the danger that the Tories' ill-judged policies pose to patients.

"It is Labour that has put the NHS in the strong position the Commonwealth Fund shows it is in today. Thanks to the Labour Government, you are guaranteed to see a specialist within two weeks if your GP suspects you have cancer, and we have now pledged diagnosis within one week if you are tested for cancer.  But David Cameron's Tories want to scrap Labour's patient guarantees.

"The Tories' threat to patient guarantees is as short-sighted as David Cameron's friend Dan Hannan's claim that the NHS is a 60-year mistake.  

"David Cameron has already broken a 'cast-iron guarantee' on Europe. The Tories' so-called 'cast-iron commitment' to the health service now looks equally rusty.

"The experts' judgement is telling - Labour NHS policies are working. The Tories' policies would put patients at risk."