Our plan for a better NHS

Andrew Lansley unveiled his plan for a better NHS, and pledged to give every patient access to a single room if they need or want it.

The Shadow Health Secretary stressed that our NHS Improvement Plan puts “the patient in the driving seat”, for example by letting patients choose the GP that’s best for them and enabling people with long-term conditions  to control their care with a personal budget.

Andrew promised to scrap Labour’s targets and bureaucracy that have so distorted clinical judgements:

“If responsible professionals have the freedom to respond to informed and empowered patients, services will improve.”

And he announced that a Conservative Government would undertake a major programme to ensure that single rooms are available for all patients who need one on grounds of medical safety or to maintain personal dignity.

This would include:

• All mothers in maternity care
• All mental health patients
• Every patient about to undergo an operation would be given the choice of a single room

Andrew stressed, “Any stay in hospital is a traumatic and trying time. We hope that the proposals we are announcing today will make a big difference in removing unnecessary stress for patients and their families.”