The sick could be prevented from having priority NHS treatment unless they become well, under new laws being considered by the Labour Government.
Sick people cost the NHS £12.4 billion a year and this figure is expected to increase. The Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt is said to have been shocked by the burden caused by the sick. In an interview with Newsnight's Jeremy Paxman Ms Hewitt said, "It is of great concern to myself and many of my cabinet colleagues how the vast majority of those people using NHS services would not be doing so if they were in better health."
Mr Blair is also thought to be extremely irritated by the growing numbers of ill people creating chaos in hospital wards all over the country. He is expected to ask a number of Health Authority Committees to produce ideas for radical reforms to the way people access NHS services in the future.
