WANLESS REPORT A DAMNING CRITIQUE OF GOVERNMENT'S FAILURE ON NHS - LAMB

10.34.31am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 11th Sep 2007

Commenting on the Sir Derek Wanless report published today by the King's Fund reviewing NHS funding and performance, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb MP said: "This report is a damning critique of the Government's failure to get value for money out of all the extra investment in the NHS."

"Ministers cannot ignore these recommendations as they did with last year's report by Sir Derek into social care.

"A failure to act on the growing crisis in public health, particularly obesity, threatens to store up even more problems for the NHS in the future. If something isn't done now, the cost to the health service will spiral.

"With rising investment in the NHS set to end next year, it is vital that we get more out of the money spent now or we risk the kind of rationing which would see patient care compromised."

'Our Future Health Secured? A review of NHS funding and performance', by Sir Derek Wanless, was published today by the King's Fund.