Cameron promises new maternity networks and a health premium for poorest areas of Britain

Peter Cuthbertson
4 January 2010

Launching a new poster campaign on the NHS, David Cameron, George Osborne and Andrew Lansley today announced two new health policies which will be part of the 2010 Conservative Manifesto.

At an event in Westminster attended by Chelgate, the Conservative leader announced that a Conservative government would introduce a “health premium that targets resources on the poorest areas so we banish health inequalities to history.” Under this policy, the poorer an area, the more money it could expect to receive.

A change in maternity provision was also announced. David Cameron said of the proposed new maternity networks:
"These will bring together, in one network, under one organisational structure, all the maternity services in one area a mother may need. Local hospitals, GPs, charities, community groups and maternity consultants will all be linked up so that they can share information, expertise and services."

While explaining their new policies, Cameron, Osborne and Lansley spoke in front of a poster that will appear in one thousand locations, stating: “We can’t go on like this. I’ll cut the deficit, not the NHS”.