Lansley 'dodging hard decisions' on NHS cuts

Health experts today poured cold water over Conservative plans to save NHS money by cutting red tape.

Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley claimed he could save £4billion in administrative costs over four years. But Health Secretary Andy Burnham has said the NHS must make up to £20billion in savings.

John Lister, of campaign group London Health Emergency, said £4 billion over four years "was a drop in the ocean". Steve Barnett, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: "While there is potential for savings in bureaucracy, the scale of the task for the NHS in meeting the £15-£20billion efficiency requirements it needs is huge."

He added: "The hardest decisions are going to be those about priorities for clinical care and service re-organisation and redesign, and this is where politicians and NHS leaders will have to work together to find solutions."

Dr Kevin O'Kane, chairman of the BMA's London Regional Council, said billions could be saved by slashing the amount the NHS pays to the private sector to carry out operations.