NHS five-year view 'endorses' Labour's plan for the NHS ­- and 'raises big questions for David Cameron'

A major NHS review has warned that Tory spending plans for the NHS would leave a large funding gap and would not be enough to prevent an NHS crisis in the next Parliament. This follows a warning this week by the Conservative Chair of the Health Select Committee that a continuation of current Conservative plans could lead to "top-ups and charges" for NHS treatment.

Labour has already made a commitment to raise an extra £2.5 billion a year for the NHS through a Mansion Tax on the highest-value properties over £2million , tackling tax avoidance and a new levy on tobacco companies. David Cameron was asked today to match Labour's additional £2.5billion for the NHS and failed to do so.

The review also endorses key planks of Labour's NHS plan, including:

• full integration of NHS and social care and a greater role for Health & Well-being Boards;
• better access to primary care through recruiting more GPs;
• faster access to cancer tests, as set out by Ed Miliband last weekend;
• a stronger focus on public health with action on food reformulation and tobacco;
• new rights and support for carers; and
• a shift towards a preventative NHS with mental health care at the centre.

Shadow Health Secretary, Andy Burnham MP, commenting said: "This report lays bare the inadequacy of Tory funding plans for the NHS which, if left unchanged, will trigger an NHS crisis in the next Parliament. David Cameron's decisions will leave patients facing even longer waits and raise the spectre that a re-elected Tory Government would have to introduce rationing, cuts and charges.

Continuing Mr Burnham said: "I am encouraged by the authoritative endorsement for Labour's plan for the NHS, including full integration of health and social care with more support provided in the home. This important reform, alongside Labour's extra £2.5 billion investment in the NHS- on top of Conservative spending plans - through a Mansion Tax and a levy on tobacco companies, will go a long way towards solving the financial challenge. Labour today welcomes this report and calls on the Government to say whether it is prepared to match our plans."

Responding to the NHS 5-year plan for the Liberal Democrats, Health Minister, Norman Lamb said: "Liberal Democrats want to create opportunity for everyone by building a stronger economy and a fairer society. That means properly funding our NHS for the future and providing better care, both for physical and mental health.

Criticising Labour's record Norman Lamb said: "Over 13 years, Labour wasted money with PFI schemes and sweetheart deals for private companies and now they are wrecking the NHS in Wales – cutting the budget by 8%, missing targets on A&E and cancer treatment and presiding over the worst ambulance response times in the UK. They refused to protect NHS funding in this Parliament and they can’t be trusted with it in Government again. Ed Miliband and Ed Balls would wreck the recovery and you can’t have well-funded public services without a strong economy.

Talking about the Tories Mr Lamb said: "The Conservatives are not promising anything more than protecting the NHS budget in real terms. "If that's the deal, the NHS would crash. The Tories are totally failing to recognise the need for more resources to deal with the growing pressures on the NHS as we all live longer, often with chronic conditions.

Commenting on what the Lib Dems propose "Only the Liberal Democrats are calling for more funding next year and at least one billion more in each year after that. We are the only party that will invest more in our public services once we have finished the job of clearing the deficit in 2018. We are the only party putting equality for mental health treatment front and centre of our manifesto, with £500m of extra funding.

“And we are the only party calling for real improvement from the bottom up, joining up health and care to give people care closer to home. Much of Simon Steven’s report is in line with Liberal Democrat policy. The priority given to mental health is extremely welcome. Recognising and supporting the needs of carers is vital. And getting hospital teams to work more closely with GPs, and GPs to work together to deliver care is an important step in providing care closer to home.”