Tories say Brown abused NHS hospital for political gain

The Conservatives pointed out that Cabinet Office guidance advised against holding general election events on NHS premises.

In the interests of impartiality, the trust was obliged to consider a request by the Labour Party to stage a general election event at the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham

But speaking at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, the prime minister said the rules had not been breached.

“This is a building that is held by the construction firm, that will be passed on to the NHS in the next few weeks,” Mr Brown said.

Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: “It is absolutely typical of the Labour Party to abuse the NHS for political advantage. This is a hospital paid for by the taxpayer, which Gordon Brown described as an NHS hospital and will serve NHS patients in a matter of weeks.” 

The trust said in a statement: “On the day the general election was called, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust had already agreed to a media event involving David Cameron and the Conservative Party at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

“Subsequently, and in the interests of impartiality, the trust was obliged to consider a request by the Labour Party to stage a general election event at the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

“Permission was sought from Balfour Beatty as the new hospital is not trust property until it is handed over mid April 2010.”