Labour lashes out at ‘free market’ health policy

LABOUR last night accused the Government of squandering taxpayers money on “fat cat” private hospitals at the expense of public patients.

The party’s heal th spokes- person Liz McManus accused ministers of putting sick people at risk by insisting on “a free market approach at all costs”.

In a scathing attack on the Coalition’s record in medical care, Ms McManus singled out the plan to develop private hospitals on HSE lands as a way for business to “cream off” lucrative contracts and leave costly long-term care to the over- stretched health service.