17/12/2003

Reid welcomes NHS plaudits

Health Secretary John Reid has welcomed new figures showing that the NHS is the fastest growing health system of any major country in the European Union.

Commenting on the Office for National Statistics announcement that health spending has increased, John Reid said it shows that:
  • total public spending on healthcare in 2002 was over £67bn, eight per cent up on the previous year
  • the biggest hospital building programme in the history of the NHS is in progress
  • more doctors and nurses are being recruited
  • more patients are receiving speedier treatment and reforms are offering patients more choice
  • prevention, diagnosis and treatment is improving in areas like cancer where death rates for under 75s have fallen by ten per cent and deaths from cardiovascular disease have fallen by nearly a fifth


"Today's ONS report on health spending confirms that the Government's pledges to make record investment in the NHS are being kept,” the Health Secretary said.

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