Cameron promises 'bare knuckle fight' over NHS

Tories warn against hospital closures

Monday, 20, Aug 2007 12:00

David Cameron is re-launching his campaign against the government's so-called NHS cuts with a focus on the closure of NHS district hospitals.

Mr Cameron will visit Worthing hospital today ahead of a second hospital visit in the West Midlands tomorrow and has threatened a "bare-knuckle fight" over hospital closures.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme ahead of his hospital visit, Mr Cameron said local district general hospitals were a key part of the NHS.

He said: "People have put money into the NHS - they've paid increased taxes.

"They want to see their district general hospital improved and people simply do not understand why maternity units and accident and emergency units are being shut down - when actually accident and emergency admissions are actually up and births are up."

The Conservatives claim 29 local hospitals are at risk from service cuts. The government says it is conducting a review or consulting on the future of services in 13 NHS trusts, which may contain more than one at-risk hospital each.

The government denies this amounts to a "wholesale closure" of hospitals and instead says it will be part of streamlining the NHS to find the safest and most effective way of delivering care.

Public health minister Dawn Primarolo asked how the Conservatives planned to maintain public services while moving towards tax cuts.

Speaking to the BBC, Ms Primarolo said: "It's misleading or dishonest to, on Friday, for the Tory party to support £21bn worth of cuts from public services in supporting the Redwood commission proposals.

"And then come back and say suddenly not only are they not going to do that, they are going to invest in public services and we know that's not true."

The Conservatives' move back towards traditional topics such as health and tax cuts is seen as a sign Mr Cameron is preparing for a snap election against Gordon Brown.

The Tory leader will continue with his attempt to modernise the party, however, recasting crime as a symptom of a "broken society".

He told Today that to tackle "anarchy in the UK", the government would have to strengthen families and communities.

Mr Cameron argued this could be done via the benefits system, which should be structured to encourage couples to formalise their relationship and stay together.

After a turbulent few months for the opposition leader, Mr Cameron denied he had ever underestimated Mr Brown.

Mr Cameron said: "He's been chancellor for ten years, he managed to dislodge the prime minister who had won three elections. I've never underestimated Gordon Brown."

But, he argued all of Britain's present problems could be traced to Gordon Brown's tenure as chancellor.