"Government waiting targets nonsense" says Lib Dem MP

8.35.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 11th May 2006

Commenting on the details of the maximum 18 week waiting list target announced by the Department of Health, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Steve Webb MP said: "Despite the Government's assurances, too many people are still waiting far too long for NHS treatment. It is outrageous for the Government to boast about hitting its 18 week target when their definition excludes some of the treatments with the longest waits. "It is nonsense for the Government to claim they are abolishing waiting in the NHS. For some services, ranging from fertility treatment to hearing aids, some people are currently waiting years."

Commenting on the announcement that Winchcombe Community Hospital is to close as part of massive cuts to NHS services in Gloucestershire Mr Webb said: "At Westminster the Government tells us that it believes in community hospitals, but at local level they are being picked off one at a time. It is incredible while record amounts are spent on the NHS, we are facing continual cuts in frontline services. If the Government believes that community hospitals and district general hospitals have no future it should come clean and let us have a genuine debate."