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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| More single rooms in NHS - Tories | More single rooms in NHS - Tories |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Conservatives are promising a large rise in the number of single rooms in NHS hospitals to help tackle infections and improve patient experiences. | The Conservatives are promising a large rise in the number of single rooms in NHS hospitals to help tackle infections and improve patient experiences. |
| All expectant mothers will be offered a single room if they want one, as will patients on mental health wards, health spokesman Andrew Lansley has announced. | All expectant mothers will be offered a single room if they want one, as will patients on mental health wards, health spokesman Andrew Lansley has announced. |
| The plan to create 45,000 extra single rooms by the end of the first term of a Tory government will cost about £1.5bn. | The plan to create 45,000 extra single rooms by the end of the first term of a Tory government will cost about £1.5bn. |
| Opposition parties said it was unclear how the plan would be funded. | Opposition parties said it was unclear how the plan would be funded. |
| 'Patient dignity' | 'Patient dignity' |
| In his speech to the Conservatives' annual conference in Birmingham, Mr Lansley said Labour had failed to meet targets on providing more single rooms in new hospitals and increasing single-sex accommodation across the NHS. | In his speech to the Conservatives' annual conference in Birmingham, Mr Lansley said Labour had failed to meet targets on providing more single rooms in new hospitals and increasing single-sex accommodation across the NHS. |
| We hope that the proposals we are announcing will make a big difference in removing unnecessary stress for patients and their families Andrew Lansley, Conservatives | We hope that the proposals we are announcing will make a big difference in removing unnecessary stress for patients and their families Andrew Lansley, Conservatives |
| He added: "No-one should be forced to suffer the indignity of staying on a mixed sex ward." | He added: "No-one should be forced to suffer the indignity of staying on a mixed sex ward." |
| Under the Tory plans, the number of rooms set aside for treating people with hospital-acquired infections will be increased by 7%. | Under the Tory plans, the number of rooms set aside for treating people with hospital-acquired infections will be increased by 7%. |
| In a further guarantee, all patients admitted for planned care - excluding children - will have the option of having a single room. | In a further guarantee, all patients admitted for planned care - excluding children - will have the option of having a single room. |
| The Tories estimate that about 93,200 single room beds will be needed, up from the 48,000 now available. | The Tories estimate that about 93,200 single room beds will be needed, up from the 48,000 now available. |
| On the basis of recent and existing schemes to create single hospital rooms, the party believes the project will require annual expenditure of £314m over five years. | On the basis of recent and existing schemes to create single hospital rooms, the party believes the project will require annual expenditure of £314m over five years. |
| "By giving NHS patients the choice of a single room when they book their operation, we will ensure that they will be treated with the dignity they deserve," Mr Lansley added. | "By giving NHS patients the choice of a single room when they book their operation, we will ensure that they will be treated with the dignity they deserve," Mr Lansley added. |
| "Any stay in a hospital is a traumatic and trying time. We hope that the proposals we are announcing will make a big difference in removing unnecessary stress for patients and their families." | "Any stay in a hospital is a traumatic and trying time. We hope that the proposals we are announcing will make a big difference in removing unnecessary stress for patients and their families." |
| Political fight | Political fight |
| The Tories are trying to gain political ground on the NHS, long regarded as a core Labour issue, by accusing the government of wasting billions of pounds on bureaucracy and letting patients down. | The Tories are trying to gain political ground on the NHS, long regarded as a core Labour issue, by accusing the government of wasting billions of pounds on bureaucracy and letting patients down. |
| In his speech, Mr Lansley also outlined plans to give more choice to patients and more powers to health professionals. | In his speech, Mr Lansley also outlined plans to give more choice to patients and more powers to health professionals. |
| Focusing on treatment outcomes rather than central targets would mean money was better spent. | Focusing on treatment outcomes rather than central targets would mean money was better spent. |
| At a Tory conference fringe meeting on Sunday, frontbench spokesman Oliver Letwin said a free NHS remained a "treasured principle" but that patients should have more choice of providers within the health service. | At a Tory conference fringe meeting on Sunday, frontbench spokesman Oliver Letwin said a free NHS remained a "treasured principle" but that patients should have more choice of providers within the health service. |
| Labour's Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo MP, said the Tories had not thought about how they would fund their health policies and were not focusing on what was best for patients. | |
| She said: "Their plans to make it harder for people to see their GP in the evenings and at weekends show that the Tories still aren't on the side of patients." | |
| The Liberal Democrats said the Tories were offering "nothing new" and would make the NHS less accountable to those paying for it. | The Liberal Democrats said the Tories were offering "nothing new" and would make the NHS less accountable to those paying for it. |
| The Royal College of Nursing welcomed the Tories' aim to cut nurses' paperwork and their pursuit of alternatives to mixed-sexed wards but said it would like to see more details of their "ambitious pledges". | The Royal College of Nursing welcomed the Tories' aim to cut nurses' paperwork and their pursuit of alternatives to mixed-sexed wards but said it would like to see more details of their "ambitious pledges". |