Saturday, January 13, 2007

Revealed: the 11 government ministers fighting NHS cuts





Solicitor-general and two of Hewitt's own team have campaigned against closures



John Carvel, social affairs editor

Saturday January 13, 2007

The Guardian


At least 13 members of Tony Blair's ministerial team have campaigned over the last few months against closure of services at NHS hospitals used by their constituents, a Guardian survey has revealed.

The hitherto unrealised scale of opposition within the government's ranks to the consequences of NHS reform reflects the difficulty Patricia Hewitt, the health secretary, faces in selling her policies to the nation. Many Labour backbenchers are also showing their dissent by making campaigns to save accident and emergency departments or maternity services the focus of their constituency activities.