Scandal of Labour’s NHS waste

LABOUR failed to give taxpayers value for money from the billions they poured into hospitals, a report has found.

Previous research showed the number of NHS managers doubled under Labour Previous research showed the number of NHS managers doubled under Labour

Despite NHS spending increasing by 70 per cent over the past decade, productivity actually declined in hospitals, the Public Accounts Committee said last night.

Committee chairman Margaret Hodge, a former Labour minister, said: “Over the last 10 years, the productivity of NHS hospitals has been in almost continuous decline.

“Over the same period, the amount spent on the NHS increased from £60billion to £102billion a year.

“The quality of the health service has improved as a result of this increase in spending.

“But the taxpayer has been getting less for each pound spent.’’

The Health Department must now seek to reverse the trend, she said.

The target is efficiency savings of up to £20billion a year by the end of 2014-15 to reinvest in healthcare, she added.

Over the last 10 years, the productivity of NHS hospitals has been in almost continuous decline

Margaret Hodge, a former Labour minister,

One key problem is that national pay contracts were not used effectively to manage staff performance. While consultants had enjoyed significant pay rises, their productivity had fallen.Health Minister Simon Burns, a Conservative, said: “This is yet another sign 13 years of Labour policy failed to deliver value for money in the NHS.

“We are committed to the NHS, which is why we are modernising it and making sure money spent on bureaucracy will be spent on making sure patients get the best care possible.’’

Previous research showed the number of NHS managers doubled under Labour and rose six times as fast as that of nurses.

Managers’ pay also rose faster than that of nurses.

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?