» Wednesday, March 2, 2005

NHS

Asked if it was appropriate for the Government to be seen squabbling with the opposition party over the health of a 69 year old woman, for instance through today’s visit to Warrington, the PMOS said that he was not going to get involved in party political matters. He would however point out some factual matters. Firstly as he had said yesterday the Government did not want to get involved in talking about an individual case, but it was a fact that the proportion of cancelled operations had not changed much over the years. It remained at 1.2%. Secondly there had been 450,000 more operations per year during this administration. Inevitably given that there were more operations, the number of cancelled operations would increase slightly. Secondly the characterisation of the Health Secretary’s movements as being motivated by this particular case, did not take into account that the visit to Tim Parry Reconciliation Centre had been scheduled for some time. The fact that it happened to be in Warrington today was entirely coincidental. Thirdly it was not the Government who raised this particular case. Put to him that the Government had been getting into the individual case, the PMOS repeated that it had not been the Government who had first raised this case. He pointed out that this case was being used to make a generalization about the Health Service. The Health Secretary had been trying to put the argument that you should not and could not use an individual case to make generalizations about the Health Service. That was the reverse of what the question had suggested.

Asked if the Prime Minister had read Mrs Dixon’s daughter’s letter, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister had been fully engaged throughout the day, but he would read it and reply in due course.

Briefing took place at 15:45 | Search for related news

2 Comments »

  1. The NHS is a shambles and the situation in Warrington where a woman made a fools of both the goverment and tories is right the Nhs with all your so called funding is not working. This goverment wastes millions I’m glad its not my personal fund although since you came to power my pension has halved in value but thats notmy thoughts today its on health my wife has been waiting for attention from a very poor consultant Dr Rowe at Worcester Royal Hospital( a very poor and DIRTY new hospital opened and funded by new Labour)This has been going on for 2 years now our doctor tells us that he is not answering his phone and has become uncontactable, do you consider this only an odd case as you did the woman in warrington of course it isn’t this is common place not the rubbish Tony Blair spouts saying all is good under Labour. Why can we not have access to a specialist even though he’s poor MY WIFE IS IN GREAT PAIN what will you do? We are with the Upton on Seven Doctors 01684593838 My wifes Name is Le-Etta Miles and we live at 31 Nixon Court Callow End Worcester WR2 4UU.

    Comment by John Miles — 4 Mar 2005 on 2:14 pm | Link
  2. John – you can e-mail your Member of Parliament directly by following this link.
    <a href="http://www.sirmichaelspicer.net/spicerhome.htm">http://www.sirmichaelspicer.net/spicerhome.htm</a&gt;

    If he is any good he will be able to raise the matter with John Ried’s office.

    You could also ring the Worcester Berrows Journal as they like local stories.

    Comment by Roger Huffadine — 4 Mar 2005 on 2:52 pm | Link

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