Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Health – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 22 February 2005.
I am sure that the staff will appreciate my hon. Friend's comments, because NHS staff are too often not thanked for their work. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will meet the Health and Social Services Minister in the Welsh Assembly Government, and I am sure that he will be happy to discuss how we have made dramatic improvements on waiting lists, which is a problem that we inherited, by setting clear national targets and adopting innovative approaches such as mobile units. I am also sure that he will be happy to discuss improvements to public health in Wales.
My hon. Friend asked which matters will not be on the agenda. The introduction of patient charges in the NHS, taking £1.2 billion away from the NHS and the dreaded patient passport will certainly not be on the agenda, because, unlike the Conservative party, this party believes in the NHS being free at the point of need.