Government defends NHS reforms

The Government has defended its Health Service reforms in the face of fresh union attacks - ahead of a meeting in Downing Street between the Prime Minister and TUC leaders.

Health Secretary John Reid made it clear he was pressing ahead with changes, including the formation of foundation hospitals, in a bid to improve services and cut waiting times.

Unions will criticise the reforms when they meet Tony Blair later today for talks ahead of next week's TUC Congress in Brighton.

They will argue that foundation hospitals were not in Labour's manifesto and could lead to staff shortages elsewhere in the NHS because of their ability to pay higher wages.

Jack Dromey, a national official of the Transport & General Workers Union has warned that foundation hospitals could be Labour's poll tax, setting hospital against hospital and he has urged the Government to "abandon" them.

Mr Dromey told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the Government should rule out charges for health services and allow local people a vote on whether or not they wanted foundation hospitals in their area, adding he was convinced nobody would support them.

He also called on ministers to ensure that a new pay agreement in the NHS covered all hospitals.

But Dr Reid, interviewed on the same programme, made it clear there was no going back on the Government's health reforms, although he stressed they were within the principle of equal access of care, free at the point of delivery.

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