Barts decision welcome but "long overdue"

6.07.15pm GMT Wed 8th Mar 2006

London's Liberal Democrat Euro-MP and former Islington councillor Baroness Sarah Ludford has welcomed the government's decision at last to approve the redevelopment of Bart's and the Royal London hospitals, but called it "long overdue." She said:

"The Labour government came to power on a pledge to save both the NHS and Bart's. Yet it has taken them 9 years to secure the future of this vitally needed hospital."

"The waste of time and money, and the anxiety caused, is deeply regrettable. Their dithering has cost the taxpayer £35 million in payments to developers. Londoners will have every right to feel short-changed by beds left empty as a consequence,"

"Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt blamed the delay on having to pore over 'hundreds of pages of legal documentation'. But whose fault is that? They are seeking to out-Thatcher the Tories by privatising parts of our NHS just as they have done to the Tube. The lawyers and consultants are laughing all the way to the bank."