The Labour government have announced that all NHS patients will be legally entitled to three new rights to treatment in early 2010.  This means that if Newham Healthcare NHS Trust are unable to meet these guarantees, they will be required by law to find the patient treatment elsewhere.

These three new rights are:

• To a free health check every five years for those aged 40-74. 
• To see a cancer specialist within 2 weeks.
• To treatment within 18 weeks.

These rights give patients real power over their treatment and guarantee high standards of care for all.

And Labour want to go even further. An ongoing government consultation is exploring other potential rights including a right to diagnostic cancer tests and results within one week – our cancer pledge, to NHS dentistry and to see a GP at weekends. 

 Lyn Brown, MP for West Ham, said:

“Newham patients have already benefited enormously from Labour’s investment in the NHS.  Newham General Hospital achieved an overall ‘good’ rating in its last inspection with 100% of cancer patients being seen within 2 weeks and 94% of all patients being treated within 18 weeks.  Waiting lists are now at their shortest ever.

I have already seen the benefits of free health checks which are already available across the borough.  Over 21,000 local people aged 40 to 74 have now been checked with a number of serious medical problems being detected early.

But there is more to do.  These new rights will guarantee that patients in Newham will receive the treatment they need, as soon as possible.

 The Tories say that these guarantees are unnecessary ‘bureaucracy’ and ‘red tape’ and will get rid of them if they form the next government.  They are wrong.  These rights will ensure that all patients, not just the privileged few, can access the care they need, when they need it.”