Published: 28/03/2002, Volume II2, No. 5798 Page 7

Public patience in the NHS is 'wearing thin', shadow health secretary Dr Liam Fox told the Conservative Party's spring conference.

'At the same time as rising intellectual criticism about the quality of the service, there remains a strong emotional attachment' - a combination that amounts to 'ambivalence'.

He added: 'Labour supporters cling to the NHS like a comfort blanket, because in every other facet of policy they feel that the party has abandoned its roots.'

Leader Iain Duncan Smith vowed to 'free our hospitals from control by Whitehall'.