Labour NHS Policy
Labour proposes free social care for terminally ill
Labour has proposed providing free social care to patients with a terminal illness and ending means testing, the party announced yesterday.
Labour plots service changes through local authorities
Labour will attempt to link “waste, waits, stresses and strains” in the NHS to the government’s reforms, and try to redesign services through the local authorities it runs.
Embrace NHS competition, Milburn tells Labour
Former Labour health secretary Alan Milburn has warned his successors in the party to back competition in the health service and adopt a more reformist outlook.
Labour peers prepare amendments for health bill
Labour peers are taking aim at the Health Bill’s planned new accountability regime, emphasising the need for a stronger patient voice and for the relationships between statutory bodies to be clarified.
Burnham moves back to health in shadow cabinet reshuffle
Andy Burnham has been confirmed as John Healey’s replacement as shadow health secretary.
'Biased' surgeons blamed for unnecessary recall
Surgeons who held a biased view of independent treatment centres caused the unnecessary recall of more than 600 patients, a new report claims.
'Disappointing' DH delays Mid Staffs inquiry
The public inquiry into Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust has been held up by the Department of Health’s failure to disclose relevant documents.
Healey: government must drop part three of bill
The whole of part three of the health bill, which deals with the role of Monitor, must be dropped if the bill is to win Labour backing, shadow health secretary John Healey has said.
'Introspective' NHS fearful of change
The NHS has an “introspective, monopolistic culture” in which staff are unwilling “to accept the inevitability of change”, according to a former Labour minister who was given a key public spending reform role by the coalition government.
Healey appoints new adviser from NHS Confed
The NHS Confederation’s senior policy manager has been appointed as a special adviser to shadow health secretary John Healey.
Elderly care service review launched
The future planning of elderly care services is “one of the greatest challenges” for society, according to the chairman of a new group set up to investigate reforms in Scotland.
Ed Miliband promises 'profound change'
Ed Miliband has promised “profound” change to the Labour Party on the scale of Tony Blair’s reforms of the mid-1990s.
Call to slash Scotland's 22 health boards
It is “impossible to justify” Scotland’s 22 health boards, Labour has said.
Shadow health team confirmed
The Labour Party has confirmed the ministerial responsibilities that will be covered by its shadow health team.
Shadow health secretary wastes no time in attacking NHS cuts
Newly appointed Labour shadow health secretary John Healey has targeted trust’s plans to cut accident and emergency, and maternity services in his first attack on the government.
Ed Miliband signals tax rises to protect services
New Labour leader Ed Miliband has given his strongest signal yet that he would put up taxes in order to protect public services from spending cuts.
Andy Burnham accuses Cameron of NHS u-turn
Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham accused prime minister David Cameron of a u-turn on NHS policy in his speech to the Labour party conference today.
Labour in the Health Hotel
The opposition gets a chance to hit back at health secretary Andrew Lansley’s plans for the NHS next week at the Labour Party conference in Manchester.
Hospital parking charges set to stay
Hopes that hospitals in England could be banned from charging patients for parking look set to be dashed, after ministers indicated the move appeared too expensive.
Andy Burnham calls for higher taxes to pay deficit
Labour leadership candidate Andy Burnham has called for higher taxes to help pay off Britain’s record deficit.
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More on Labour Policy
Michael White: ministers are puzzled by the BMA’s hostility
It remains a guiding principle of this column that any policy opposed by the British Medical Association can’t be all bad.
Andrew Murrison on the military covenant
The British public is discerning. It may doubt the validity of UK involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan but gives the thumbs up to the means of its prosecution.
'La La is throwing his limited political capital into reshuffling bureaucracy'
It’s all getting rather confusing with La La Lansley. Is he the mild mannered janitor who turns in to Hong Kong Phooey, or is he just the janitor for Stephen Dorrell?
What was he thinking?
What’s that? Our former health boss, cheerful Alan Johnson, as shadow chancellor and Andy Burnham switched to the education brief, where he has been quick to condemn coalition plans to raise student tuition charges? What was Ed Miliband thinking?
How New Labour changed NHS management culture
Deep shifts in management team culture may be Labour’s most enduring legacy to the NHS, says Russell Mannion.
