WYRE Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor has backed the Government's Budget, stating it was a commitment to the original ideals of the National Health Service.
He told the budget debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday he was "delighted" the Government was giving the NHS what may be its final chance to improve and succeed.
Chancellor Gordon Brown has put an extra one per cent on National Insurance contributions to fund a massive 43 per cent investment rise in the service over five years to £105.6 billion.
Dr Taylor welcomed the devolution of power to primary care trusts but was dubious how far the principle of devolution would go.
He referred to guidelines by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence which he feared may override local decisions.
And he dubbed the loss of Community Health Councils "disappointing".
He also called for open, honest discussion of health care rationing.
He said: "Political parties tend to veer away from that and are frightened of it but it is essential."
And he said proposals had excluded reform of health care management.
He said: "We have some superb businesses in my constituency. We make the best carpets, and amazingly, in the middle of England, superb ocean-going cruisers.
"We can do things well. In parts of the NHS we are doing that, so why are we not doing it in every part of the NHS? Excellent management is important."
Dr Taylor also called for a massive pay rise for nurses to halt the loss of nurses abroad.
He pointed out there were no proposals for abolishing waste in the NHS.
He said the removal of waste and fraud would save the Government £7 billion a year.
He added: "I am sure members have examples of local waste in their constituencies.
"I have the shining example of the closure of all acute in-patient services at a charter-marked efficient hospital, which many sources readily admit was purely for financial reasons.
"One can imagine my constituents' derision whey they are told 40 new hospitals will be built and one that stands largely empty could reduce that number to only 39."
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