By Gillian Ellison

Last updated at 13:28, Thursday, 13 October 2011

COPELAND’S MP will be on the NHS frontline in his new role as shadow health minister.

Jamie Reed has been made a frontbench health spokesman as part of Labour leader Ed Miliband’s reshuffle.

He will be joining new shadow health secretary Andy Burnham, who was health secretary in the last Labour government and who was moved from his education spokesman role on Friday.

Mr Reed says he will work night and day to safeguard the NHS.

“With everything that’s happening locally to the NHS, this is an important point to be involved on the front line of health policy,” he said.

“As the West Cumberland Hospital is the first new hospital to have been built by the NHS in 1968, I’ll be working to resolve the problems facing our local NHS and hopefully using this example to ensure that this kind of chaos isn’t replicated anywhere else.

“The government’s unwanted changes will cost unnecessary billions, yet command no support in the country from either the public or health professionals. If Cameron and Lansley withdraw this bill, we’ll work with them to produce a Bill that the public will support,” added Mr Reed.

First published at 11:12, Thursday, 13 October 2011
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk