Speeches and Articles from Diana Johnson No 3

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Text of letter to Brentwood Gazette 29 April  2001

Dear Sirs, 

In a recent opinion poll in Good Housekeeping women thought that healthcare would be the most important issue in the forthcoming General Election. I read the 2 letters in the Gazette last week about the NHS and wanted to provide a balance to the comments made.

Having been a  Non Executive director in the NHS over the last 6 years, I know first hand  that this Government is committed to creating a modern and properly funded health service fit for this new century. Contrast this with the Tory plans to privatise the NHS, make massive cuts and create a two-tier service.

Gone is the dogma of the business internal market in the NHS, created under the Tories and in its place we have co-operation between hospitals sharing best practice. 

We have 38 major hospital developments, the biggest building programme ever in the NHS.  Labour has kept to its 1997 pledge and seen a reduction of 100,000 in waiting lists compared to the rise in waiting lists of 400,000 between 1979 and 1997. Combined with this is the creation of Primary Care Trusts, National standards for the care of the elderly and mentally ill, greater co-operation between Social Services and Health, NHS Direct - offering advice by telephone, Free eye tests for the over 60 's…. and lots more!

These are just a few of the new initiatives brought in by Labour. Most importantly we have a 10 - year plan to invest in our NHS. Labour will train new doctors and nurses and make sure that investment goes into the healthcare year on year.

In a recent MORI poll 62% of the public didn’t think the Tories could be trusted with the NHS.  I agree.

Yours faithfully

Diana Johnson