NHS concern genuine, says Lansley

Ed Miliband is set to offer cross-party support if the government considers alternative proposals

David Cameron will be “betraying the trust” of voters if he pushes ahead with government proposals to reform the NHS in England, Ed Miliband is to say.

Labour’s leader will say contradictory briefings have led to a sense of “utter confusion” about the plans, which would give GPs new commissioning powers.

He is expected to offer cross-party co-operation to develop replacement plans.

Ministers say change is vital to secure the NHS’s future and are planning a campaign to reassure the public.

In a speech in London Mr Miliband is expected to criticise the way the government is planning to change the NHS – by scrapping primary care trusts and giving GP consortia that money to commission services.

“I believe David Cameron is betraying the trust he asked the public to put in him at the election,” he is expected to say.

The Labour leader will attack what he calls “horse trading” between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats over the Health and Social Care Bill.

“Contradictory briefings to the newspapers from Tory sources, from Treasury sources, from health department sources and – in case we forgot – from the Lib Dems,” he will say.

“Each one adding to the sense of utter confusion and chaos about a bill that has completed its committee stage of the House of Commons.

“It is bad government. It is not how the future of the health service should be determined.”

He will urge the coalition to rip up the bill and say: “My commitment is this: if there is a genuine attempt to address the weaknesses of this top-down reorganisation, then my party will enter into a debate about a new plan with an open mind and accepting that any NHS plan must be delivered within a tight spending settlement.”

Ministers are understood to be preparing some changes to prevent unfair competition and to potentially make the new consortia more accountable.

But the prime minister and his deputy, Nick Clegg, are also preparing ready to defend the principles of the reforms.

They will use what Number 10 is calling a natural break in the bill’s progress through the Commons to reassure voters the changes are needed so the NHS can cope with an aging population and increased costs.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The government is utterly committed to the NHS and its principles. We are also committed to modernising the NHS. Progress on the ground continues to be impressive.

“The bill has now successfully finished committee stage in the Commons and there is a natural break before it moves to the Lords.

“We have always been prepared to listen, having already clarified that there is no question of privatisation and that competition will be based on quality, and will continue to do so.”

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