Cameron's NHS plans will cost £21,908,217 million in Newham

Labour has today revealed the hidden cost of the Government’s wasteful NHS reorganisation in Newham. New guidelines will force the local NHS to put aside £21, 908, 217 to pay for a costly NHS restructure that David Cameron repeatedly ruled out.

Lyn Brown MP said: ‘These dreadful new figures clearly demonstrate that the Tory-led Government’s reorganisation will cost the NHS far more than was previously thought. It is frankly outrageous that thousands of nurses will lose their jobs in order to fund this irresponsible and unnecessary plan.’

‘Since David Cameron became Prime Minister, Newham as already suffered a 44% increase in the number of patients having to wait more than 18 weeks for treatment.’

‘David Cameron’s dangerous reorganisation has cost tax payers over £3.4bn before it has even gone through Parliament. This wasteful spending is completely indefensible, diverting investment away from maintaining standards of care.’

‘During the election Cameron promised no more top-down NHS reorganisations, yet as soon as he came to power, he demanded the largest and most dangerous top-down reorganisation in the history of the NHS.’

The financial request is concealed deep inside the Government’s new NHS 'Operating Framework' document and brings the total cost of the NHS reorganisation above previous estimates of £2-3bn, with Primary Care Trusts now holding back £3.44bn over two years.

Last Thursday evening leading doctors from the British Medical Association voted to call for an immediate halt to the Government’s costly and controversial Health Bill.

Lyn Brown MP added: ‘The people of Newham did not vote for this massive NHS upheaval, whilst our doctors, nurses and patients have already communicated profound apprehension over the plans. Yet Cameron is ignoring any objective advice and is continuing on with his Health Bill, discarding public and professional opinion. The time has come for him to listen, put the NHS first and drop his dangerous Bill.’

Labour is running a major national drive to unite the country in a call on the Government to drop its unwanted Health Bill and people are being urged to add their name to the Government online petition by Dr Kailash Chand at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk

Write to Lyn Brown MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA, email brownl@parliament.uk or call 020 7219 6999.