Minister quits over NHS reforms

Jane Kennedy quit over NHS reform programme

Monday, 08, May 2006 12:00

The Conservatives rounded on health secretary Patricia Hewitt last night after it was revealed one of her senior ministers quit over the government's NHS reforms.

Jane Kennedy said she had had "some disputes" with ministerial colleagues and with Number 10 about the programme for reform in the health service, and took the opportunity of last week's reshuffle to quit her job.

The revelation prompted calls from the Tories for Ms Hewitt, who was one of the few cabinet ministers to keep her job on Friday, to take responsibility for mounting NHS deficits and job cuts.

"This [resignation] shows Patricia Hewitt was unable to even secure the support of her own ministerial team. The government’s NHS reform program is hopelessly confused," said shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley.

"The Department of Health needs new leadership and clear direction for reform. The government has failed to make the necessary changes."

Many analysts believed Ms Kennedy's departure as health minister was because she had been sacked, but yesterday she revealed to the Observer that she was uncomfortable with many of the new reforms coming through.

"For some time I have had disagreements with the way in which certain aspects of health reforms were being dealt with, and it obviously led to some disputes with fellow ministers and some at Number 10," she told the newspaper.

"I had been asked to do a job and bring political judgment to the job. When you try to apply that judgment and you are told you shouldn't be expressing your opinions you realise the government needs to get somebody else."

Ms Hewitt was widely believed to be at risk of losing her job in last week's reshuffle after she was heckled, booed and slow-clapped by NHS staff the previous week as she tried to explain why the health service had had its "best year ever".

However, she was one of few cabinet ministers to stay in the same post – Tony Blair made 14 changes, including sacking home secretary Charles Clarke, stripping deputy prime minister John Prescott of his responsibilities and demoting Jack Straw.