Cameron joins PM in defending NHS

Aug 14 2009

Tory leader David Cameron has said an online campaign defending the NHS from attacks in America shows how proud Britons are of the service.

Gordon and Sarah Brown were among thousands of people who posted messages of support on social networking site Twitter after the NHS was condemned by US Republicans as "evil and Orwellian".

Health Secretary Andy Burnham also offered support - although he risked embroiling himself in controversy by joking he was more interested in his football team than the NHS.

In an email to Conservative Party workers published on his blog, Mr Cameron said millions of people, including his own family, were grateful for care they had received from the NHS.

He wrote: "Just look at all the support which the NHS has received on Twitter over the last couple of days. It is a reminder - if one were needed - of how proud we in Britain are of the NHS."

US President Barack Obama's plans for reforming healthcare have sparked a furious row on the other side of the Atlantic. Opponents have warned that the changes will "socialise" the system, and could even lead to panels deciding whether the elderly deserve life-saving treatment.

Tory MEP Daniel Hannan was slapped down by his party after joining the attacks on the NHS in a US television interview last week, where he said he "wouldn't wish it on anybody". Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said the MEP had done the NHS and Americans a disservice by presenting a "negative and partial view".

A #welovetheNHS campaign was launched by Britons keen to counter the allegations, and the sheer number of messages added apparently crashed the Twitter site on Wednesday.

UK politicians are generally wary of wading into domestic policy rows in the US, but among the missives was one from Downing Street stating: "PM: NHS often makes the difference between pain and comfort, despair and hope, life and death. Thanks for always being there."

Mr Brown's wife added her own comment, saying: "#welovetheNHS - more than words can say."