Tony Blair: The public wants results for its money

From a speech by the Prime Minister to a lunch for regional newspaper executives in London

The Renaissance of local newspapers in recent years is something we should all celebrate. And so to the battles of the Government. For obvious reasons much of your recent focus and mine has been on Iraq. And it is correct, of course, that today more than ever before, the domestic and international agendas are linked. Already, post-Iraq, the oil price has fallen, the stock market is recovering. Uncertainty undermines the world economy and ours with it. Stability helps it.

But I know in the end that your readers elected us on the immediate daily issues that affect their lives: the economy, jobs, public services. Here there is progress, but it is clear that we now face a choice as a government and country. For those who believe in public services, reform is fundamental to their future. To turn our backs on it would be a collective mistake of historic proportions.

Much of the debate is about foundation hospitals, freeing up local hospitals from central control, allowing them to innovate and develop new services, while remaining firmly within the NHS. But in reality they are only one part of a series of changes we need to make.

These reforms all have one common purpose: to open the system, change the "one size fits all" concept of public services, give the parent or patient more choice and a better service, and allow the professionals the flexibility and freedom they need to develop that better service.

Foundation hospitals are just one part of these reforms. We need to drive the same principles through all parts of our public services. The public has paid its money. It now expects the results. It is up to government and front-line staff alike to show that money matched with reform can deliver results.