Tories unveil plans to free up NHS

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Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley fleshed out proposals for creating an independent board to which Department of Health responsibilities would be devolved.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) will become independent and patients will be given a "stronger voice" through a new body, HealthWatch, under a Conservative government.

Health Watch will work with the Healthcare Commission to promote patient views and will help inform the creation of new policies.

In addition, the regulator Monitor will have economic powers and will promote competition and determine prices. An NHS Constitution will also be enshrined in legislation, setting out the principles that should govern the health service.

Mr Lansley announced the plans in a draft bill, the NHS (Autonomy and Accountability) Bill. He said it was ready for implementation by the next Conservative government.

Mr Lansley said: "The NHS is being held back by top down targets and suffocating bureaucracy. We have to free up doctors and nurses and those who deliver care for patients. We need to give patients more choice and voice over their health care.

"Gordon Brown and Sir Ara Darzi have talked about independence for the NHS and cutting political interference but they have no proposals. The Conservative Party has a vision and policies which will deliver quality care to patients.

"The Bill we are publishing today creates freedom from day-to-day interference and political tinkering. It pushes powers out into the NHS, meaning fairer allocation of money.

"Labour talk about a constitution for the NHS but only the Conservative Party has done the necessary work to deliver it."