Tuesday, July 14, 2009

David Cameron promised a "bare-knuckle" fight with Gordon Brown over NHS cuts to district general hospitals.

The Tory leader was talking on a visit to Sussex recently.

He stepped straight from holiday back into the political fray to renew his centre-ground credentials by focusing on the health service.

Amid signs the Prime Minister is considering a snap autumn general election, Mr Cameron said he would not allow maternity wards and accident and emergency units in local hospitals to be closed when admissions, births and populations were rising.

He criticised Mr Brown for losing sight of the NHS, having previously pledged to make it a "top priority" during his premiership.

He said he had identified at least 29 hospitals across the country which he claims are under threat from cutbacks to A&E and maternity units.

He said: "People in this country who have paid their taxes are just frankly incredulous at how the Government can be proposing to cut back services at district general hospitals.

"The district general hospital to me is the heart of the NHS and we should be looking to expand and improve, rather than cutting back.

"What are we doing closing maternity and A&E units when A&E admissions are going up, when birth rates are going up and populations and health needs are increasing?"

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