Lansley accused of NHS U-turn by imposing centralised targets

Mr Lansley said the measurements would give a true verdict on how well the NHS was performing in key areas including patient survival and death rates, as well as taking into account experiences of treatment in surveys.

He claimed the focus on outcomes, rather than time targets introduced under Labour, would save thousands of lives – but critics argued the benchmarks were new Whitehall targets in all but name.

Royal College of Nursing chief executive Peter Carter welcomed a new focus on patient outcomes.

“However, it is vital that these benchmarks do not turn into additional targets that will place further pressure on an already stretched NHS workforce,” he added.

Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham claimed the Government had introduced 60 new targets.

“Doctors and nurses will roll their eyes in sheer disbelief at this news,” he said.

“The Government that promised to scrap NHS targets now loads 60 new targets on an NHS already under severe pressure.

“It will add red tape and bureaucracy just as the NHS is struggling to cope with the financial challenge and the biggest reorganisation in its history.”

Mr Lansley claimed more than 10,000 lives could be saved every year if the NHS outstripped average health standards set internationally.

He said he would be judged on whether outcomes improved and the plans aimed to drive up standards across the NHS.

“It sets the direction for the whole NHS, orienting the NHS back towards the people who really matter; its patients,” he said.

“And it sets out how we will hold the NHS to account for improving the results that patients get.”

The 60 indicators examine areas including premature deaths from a range of common illnesses, survival rates following cancer, infant and neonatal mortality and adult life expectancy.

They also cover quality of life for people with long-term conditions, measure recovery following illness or injury, patient experiences of services including GPs, A&E and maternity care, as well as the safety of services.

Labour’s 18-week target for hospital treatment following a referral by a GP will be retained.

Norman Williams, president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said the measurements would help to bring the quality of care for patients up to that in the highest performing hospitals.

“At the moment, patient death rates and standards of care vary significantly between hospitals and specialties and, as we have consistently recommended in our national guidance, this must be improved,” he said.

Royal College of Physicians president Sir Richard Thompson said: “Publishing information on a wide variety of areas of care is important both for driving up quality and helping people learn more about their local hospitals and how well they are performing.”

Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: “Recording patient experience effectively can act as a wake-up call for healthcare professionals that there is a problem that must be resolved.

“However, surveys should not be the be all and end all of recording patient experience.”