Doctors' Hours

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:38 pm on 21 April 2004.

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Photo of Andrew Lansley Andrew Lansley Shadow Secretary of State for Health 12:38, 21 April 2004

I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman's contribution. I have not talked about primary care yet, and I will do so later.

On investment in hospital services, the hon. Gentleman raises an important point, because all the issues that I am discussing have implications—not only the working time directive but "Agenda for Change" and the implementation of the consultants contract, which I shall mention briefly later. The combination of those changes not only imposes significant financial and managerial challenges for the NHS, but those financial challenges may obviate—this will worry Labour Back Benchers—the resources that the Government so trumpet in terms of growth in activity in the NHS. I have spoken to a number of chief executives of a range of hospital trusts, whom I have asked how much more it will cost them in this financial year, 2004–05, to deliver the same activity as in the preceding financial year. The answers vary, but the average is between 8 and 9 per cent. extra. In the context of what the hon. Gentleman asserts are unprecedented increases in the amount of money available—we agree absolutely that more money must be available for the NHS—that shows the importance of managing and introducing changes in a way that delivers growth in activity and investment with reform. That is what the Prime Minister says—I heard him say it again at Prime Minister's questions—but he spends the money and does not deliver the reform.