David Miliband goes on offensive over "lunacy" of NHS overhaul

By William Green on Jun 8, 11 09:19 AM

David Miliband is demanding answers from Andrew Lansley after the Health Secretary swerved his question in the Commons that £20m has been spent sacking primary care trust staff in the North East alone.

The Labour MP asked"Can the Secretary of State confirm my figures that over £20m has been spent in the North East of England sacking PCT staff, that this money has come from funds previously earmarked for hospitals."

He also said there would be "at least as many" groups commissioning health care under his plans as there were currently PCTs employing managers in those roles.

"Doesn't this show that his plans are lunacy, not reform, and they should be taken away and put into the dustbin, not given a simple pause?" said Mr Miliband.

Mr Lansley said: "In contrast to the last Labour Government, it is our intention to increase the frontline staffing of the NHS relative to the staffing of the administration of the NHS.

"That is why since the general election there are 3,800 fewer managers in the NHS and 2,500 more doctors."

Speaking after, Mr Miliband said: "I will be writing to Andrew Lansley demanding answers to these questions - people in the North East deserve to know how their money is being spent and how their NHS is being damaged. The redundancies being carried out are sheer lunacy."

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