Healthy NHS 'critical' for UK economy, says Davey

CARE and the NHS, which Sir Ed Davey described as "critical" for the economy, will remain his party's focus going into the budget, the Liberal Democrat leader has said.

Sir Ed left his party's conference in Brighton yesterday morning to visit volunteers in the Sussex countryside, where he helped them replace a stile near Ditchling village. "There are just too many people on waiting lists who want to be able to work again, who want to be fit for work again," Sir Ed told the PA news agency.

"Unless they can see their GPs, unless they can get their hospital treatment, they won't be able to go back to work and we need those people working. Employers are crying out for staff and if we get that we can boost our economy."