Miliband attacks Government as 'arrogant' for railroading plans

Ed Miliband accused David Cameron of being "arrogant" yesterday for pushing ahead with his reform plans despite widespread opposition from health experts and NHS staff.

At Prime Minister's Questions, the Labour leader asked for a guarantee that waiting times would not increase as a result of the changes – which Mr Cameron repeatedly failed to give.

He asked Mr Cameron: "Doctors and nurses say your reforms are extremely risky and potentially disastrous. Why are you so arrogant to think you are right and all of the people who say you are wrong are wrong?"

The Government's plans also came under fire from health unions and doctors' leaders worried that the reforms are "too much too soon". The Royal College of Nursing's chief executive, Dr Peter Carter, said that "the stakes could not be higher" for the Bill, adding: "It will be very important that none of the recent improvements to the NHS are placed in jeopardy."

Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the British Medical Association, described the plans as risky. He welcomed the involvement of GPs in planning and shaping services but said this was threatened by other parts of the Bill: "The legislation will allow competition to be forced on commissioners, even when they believe the best services can be provided by local hospitals."