Blair quizzed on NHS woes

He was tackled at Prime Minister's Questions on the issue by Tony Baldry.

The Banbury MP said that already children's services and mental health services in his constituency were under threat because of health service reorganisation.

And he said that an expanded new community hospital in Bicester -- promised in the Commons by health ministers -- was now not going to happen.

Mr Baldry warned that the Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust -- the key to health services across the county -- faced a £40m deficit next year.

He asked the Prime Minister to visit Banbury "to see what is actually happening in the NHS".

Mr Blair said he would certainly consider the points made by Tory MP Mr Baldry.

But he said the answer was to continue the investment being made by the Government into the NHS.

This had already seen the death rate for coronary heart disease fall by more than 20 per cent and for cancer by more than 10 per cent.

Mr Blair added that all the indicators over waiting lists and waiting times across the NHS had fallen since Labour came to power in 1997.

The Prime Minister concluded by saying: "I will certainly, of course, look into the matters you have raised.

"But the answer is continuing the investment in the NHS that this Government has proposed and not cutting it back as I believe is a policy of your party."

The question to Mr Blair was the latest stage by Mr Baldry in his campaign on NHS problems in his constituency.

Health Minister Stephen Ladyman promised to meet Mr Baldry to discuss the problems.

Last month he held a special debate, warning that withdrawing 24-hour care from the children's ward at The Horton hospital in Banbury would not only worsen the service for local families but increase pressure on Oxford's already over-stretched hospitals.

Following the Prime Minister's comments, Mr Baldry said: "I welcome Mr Blair's commitments to look into the issue, but the proof of the pudding is not what they say but what they do."