No Confidence in Patricia Hewitt

Sir –

I was disappointed to learn that our local Labour MP Mike O’Brien voted recently to save Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt from the sack. It is particularly hypocritical given that he has actively campaigned against the threat of cuts that her policies have resulted in at the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton.

Patricia Hewitt has badly let down the staff of our NHS. Her mismanagement of the system for training junior doctors now means that up to 10,000 may be left without jobs, whilst the NHS has been plunged into the worst financial crisis in its history.

It is clear now that only a Conservative Government will give the NHS the leadership it needs to succeed. Conservatives have already made clear our commitment to NHS staff. We will trust the professionals to deliver the care they want to deliver to patients, abolishing the political targets and tick-box checklists which damage patient care rather than improve it.

However, the NHS has lost confidence in Patricia Hewitt, and needs much better leadership now. This cannot wait until a General Election. That is why Conservatives held a vote of no confidence in the Health Secretary. In voting to save her, our Labour MP has badly let down our NHS,

Yours