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Cameron urges NHS 'independence' Cameron urges NHS 'independence'
(about 7 hours later)
Conservative leader David Cameron is to call for politicians to be taken out of the day-to-day running of the NHS.Conservative leader David Cameron is to call for politicians to be taken out of the day-to-day running of the NHS.
Last week he told the Tory conference the health service would be his number one priority if he was prime minister.Last week he told the Tory conference the health service would be his number one priority if he was prime minister.
And in a speech to thinktank the King's Fund, Mr Cameron is expected to say he will be seeking cross-party support for a NHS Independence Bill. And in a speech to think-tank the King's Fund, Mr Cameron is expected to say he will be seeking cross-party support for a NHS Independence Bill.
Chancellor Gordon Brown has also said he would consider devolving control of the health service as PM.Chancellor Gordon Brown has also said he would consider devolving control of the health service as PM.
But Mr Cameron will insist he and shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley came up with similar calls for more independence in February.But Mr Cameron will insist he and shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley came up with similar calls for more independence in February.
'Central control'
Mr Lansley said the Conservatives' call for all-parties to back their bill was a "realistic" prospect.
"It's become more realistic as it has become more obvious," he told BBC News 24.
"And the government are simply not able to deliver the changes to the National Health Service that are required with a structure of targets and central control.
"Gordon Brown has more or less admitted as much, although he was the person who was so much in favour of targets and wanted to block freedom for foundation hospitals in the past."
Mr Lansley said Mr Cameron had put aside party differences earlier this year to back Tony Blair's education bill and he called on Labour to do the same with the Tories' new NHS bill.
"In the interests of the National Health Service, on this occasion, it is we who are taking the initiative and I hope that Mr Blair and Mr Brown, if they are realistic about giving the NHS the opportunity to succeed, they will join us and support our bill," he said.
Patients' needsPatients' needs
BBC political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said the Tories were trying to turn around their historic disadvantage on the NHS, in the same way Labour focused on the economic argument to get elected in 1997. Last week Mr Cameron told the Conservatives' annual conference the NHS was his top priority - deliberately echoing Tony Blair's focus on education ahead of the 1997 general election.
Earlier on Monday, Mr Cameron will be visiting Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. Mr Cameron will further outline Conservative principles on the NHS during a visit to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
He is expected to use that speech to further outline Conservative principles on the NHS.
Let's work together to improve the NHS for everyone David CameronLet's work together to improve the NHS for everyone David Cameron
The proposed Independence Bill would aim to set a statutory framework to take politicians out of the day-to-day running of the NHS by the time of the health service's 60th anniversary in 2008.The proposed Independence Bill would aim to set a statutory framework to take politicians out of the day-to-day running of the NHS by the time of the health service's 60th anniversary in 2008.
"It would give the NHS the best possible 60th birthday present," Mr Cameron will say."It would give the NHS the best possible 60th birthday present," Mr Cameron will say.
"So my message to the government is clear: The NHS matters too much to be treated like a political football."So my message to the government is clear: The NHS matters too much to be treated like a political football.
"Let's work together to improve the NHS for everyone."Let's work together to improve the NHS for everyone.
"Let's give the NHS fair funding, and let's give taxpayers better value for money by getting rid of the targets and bureaucracy and pen-pushing that's all about politicians' priorities, not the needs of patients.""Let's give the NHS fair funding, and let's give taxpayers better value for money by getting rid of the targets and bureaucracy and pen-pushing that's all about politicians' priorities, not the needs of patients."