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Johnson to outline health future Johnson to outline health future
(about 5 hours later)
Election talk is set to dominate the third day of Labour's annual conference with a keynote speech by Health Secretary Alan Johnson. Health Secretary Alan Johnson will outline plans for a personalised NHS to the Labour conference - as election talk continues to dominate events.
PM Gordon Brown refused to end the speculation about an early ballot in his conference address on Monday. Mr Johnson told the BBC he wanted the NHS to be "clinically led, locally driven" and convenient for patients.
In his speech, Mr Johnson will take up Mr Brown's pledge to tailor a personal health service for the 21st century.
He is expected to flesh out promises to "deep clean" hospitals to combat bugs such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile.He is expected to flesh out promises to "deep clean" hospitals to combat bugs such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile.
He is due to say more about proposals to urgently treat suspected breast cancer cases, expand colon cancer screening programmes, offer all adults health checks and boost patient power. Speculation Prime Minister Gordon Brown may call an autumn poll has grown after his leader's speech on Monday.
Iraq focus Mr Brown did not refer to the election talk during his speech, but in a series of media interviews he refused to rule out calling an early election.
Patient power
Whenever there is an election the health service is expected to be a key issue with all three main parties battling to make it "theirs".
Mr Johnson is due to say more about proposals to urgently treat suspected breast cancer cases, expand colon cancer screening programmes, offer all adults health checks and boost patient power.
The health secretary's address follows Mr Brown's remark - which echoed comments once made by Margaret Thatcher - that patients should be able to see their doctor at the time they want, at the hospital or clinic they want, not at a time someone else wants.The health secretary's address follows Mr Brown's remark - which echoed comments once made by Margaret Thatcher - that patients should be able to see their doctor at the time they want, at the hospital or clinic they want, not at a time someone else wants.
What we are trying to do is to get local practitioners looking out towards their patients rather than up towards Whitehall Alan Johnson At-a-glance: Conference picks
Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he did not want a "confrontational approach" with GPs, or to change the 2004 contract, but intended to work with GPs and the BMA to develop a "much more convenient service".
"The NHS was developed as a kind of monolithic organisation, it was a creature of its time, very centrally driven," said Mr Johnson.
"That has changed, what we are trying to do ... is to get local practitioners looking out towards their patients rather than up towards Whitehall for their tablet of stone."
Iraq responsibilities
He said more people should be able to choose which GP they go to - but admitted there were problems in some areas with a shortage of practices.
"What I want is to focus absolutely remorselessly on patient care - how we can improve patient care. And part of that is empowering patients to say I'm not getting good care with this GP I'll go to another GP," he said.
Later, Foreign Secretary David Miliband, in his conference address, is expected to reiterate the government's determination to fulfil its responsibilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.Later, Foreign Secretary David Miliband, in his conference address, is expected to reiterate the government's determination to fulfil its responsibilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He is also likely to echo Mr Brown's words that the focus in Iraq must now be on security, political reconciliation and economic reconstruction.He is also likely to echo Mr Brown's words that the focus in Iraq must now be on security, political reconciliation and economic reconstruction.
But, with Mr Brown's big conference speech, his first as prime minister, now behind them and three more days of the event to run, delegates are likely to examine all ministers' speeches for signs of any hints that election planning is under way. But, with Mr Brown's big conference speech gone and three more days of the event to run, delegates are likely to examine all ministers' speeches for signs of any hints that election planning is under way.
In the wake of his words, many at the rally are calling on Mr Brown to go to the country soon.