£100,000 west London Health Commission 'waste of tax payers money'

A £100,000 Health Commission, set up by four west London councils, has come under fire from Conservative politicians claiming it is a waste of tax payers money.

At a time when Ealing Council is proposing to close day centres and play groups, opposition councillors feel the money could be better spent elsewhere.

The £100,000 commission is being funded by four Labour Councils: Brent, Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Labour politicians however believe an independent expert investigation into the NHS is vital in light of recent closures. They maintain that the opposition are merely desperate to keep the NHS out of the public eye before the general election due to the strength of feeling against recent changes brought in by the ruling party.

Councillor Mark Reen opposition spokesperson on health said: “Not content with cutting £25million more than is necessary in this year’s budget, the Labour administration have decided to set up a ‘Health Commission’ which is entirely based around keeping the NHS in the public eye in the run up to the General Election.

“There is no beguiling the true purpose of this 'Health Commission': the use public funds to further Labour’s political agenda. Labour could easily use the existing Council Scrutiny function or supply evidence to a similar review being carried out by the doctors themselves. Instead, the Labour Administration have elected to pay each Commissioner £5000 plus expenses for 4 days work, mates rates, whilst closing play groups, day centres for the elderly and moving to fortnightly waste and recycling service.

“The only healthy thing about this Commission is blatant disregard for the public and the public purse.”

Ealing Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Services, Councillor Hitesh Tailor said: “The NHS have welcomed our review and believe that these eminently qualified people have something to offer. Having these experts scrutinise the NHS will provide valuable evidence for the public on what is happening to the health service. For example the NHS made no announcement that ambulances are being turned away from Northwick Park. It emerged through the press. This is why we need an independent expert investigation into our NHS.

“The Ealing Tories have given the game away by admitting they don’t want the NHS in the public eye before the general election. This is because they know how badly their party has let the country down with their litany of broken promises on the NHS. Before the last election they promised no A&E closures, no maternity closures and no top down re-organisation. The Ealing Tories are deluding themselves if they think the NHS is not already a major issue for local residents.”