LONDON - British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair yesterday sought to play down a dispute over claims that patients could be charged for using parts of the National Health Service.
Mr Blair said Labour wanted to "repair" the NHS, not "undermine" it - but he insisted that ways to improve value for money must be considered. His comments followed a refusal by the Health Secretary, Mr Frank Dobson, to back down on his determination to conduct a "no holds barred" review of health service funding.