The NHS

The NHS

This will include offering patients screening for the early signs of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease, the first of its kind in the world.

The new plans come as the Prime Minister aims to fight against David Cameron's claim that the Tories are the party of the NHS.

In a speech in London Mr Brown also outlined plans for more diagnostic tests in GP surgeries, such as blood tests, electro-cardiograms and ultrasounds to cut waiting times.

He said the new screening initiative was "only the start" with extended screening for breast cancer for women, preventative vaccines against cervical cancer and "far more" being done in relation to aneurysms.

"The whole nature of this is that the health service has really got to change in its next 60 years from being the curative service - where it's done so much good - to being also a preventative service and one that's not simply a uniform service, but personal to people's needs," said Mr Brown.

"So you get to see the doctor you want at the time you want and the hospital you want, but also a health service organised around your needs and at the same time, of course, the preventative work."

Mr Brown also promised the continual provision of free health care in the UK and said that renewal of the health service will be the government's highest priority, indicating that further change is on the way for the NHS's 1.3 million employees in the country.

The government plans to use advertising to encourage people to take the tests, with them initially offered to the most "vulnerable". They will be avaliable in GP surgeries rather than just hospitals.

As well as the screening, other new plans for improvement include better support for those suffering from long-term conditions, an extension to existing screening for colon and breast cancer, new preventative vaccines, plus greater operational independence for local NHS trusts and clinicians with more private providers in the NHS in a bid to improve primary care.

However, there has been some opposition to the plans. Conservative shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "There is no proper timetable for delivery; we don't know where the money's coming from but we do know that Brown has raided public health budgets."

Female First - Jacqueline Farrer


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