D'YOU WANT SOME? Battling Blair: I'll beat the Tories on the NHS any time.

Byline: BOB ROBERTS Deputy Political Editor

TONY Blair last night attacked whingers who continually run down the National Health Service.

And he rounded on one of its biggest critics - Tory leader Michael Howard.

In an angry Commons showdown, the Prime Minister branded the Tories NHS wreckers and challenged Mr Howard: "If you want the debate to be between now and election day 'Who cares for Britain's National Health Service?', come on and have it."

Mr Blair said: "I think people get absolutely fed up with those who continually run down the National Health Service."

He also told the Tory leader: "We want the National Health Service better. You want to wreck it."

Mr Blair taunted Mr Howard over claims that he had wanted to return to mainstream politics so he could save the health service. Mr Blair said it was under the Tories that the NHS had been starved of funds.

"You say you came back into the front line of politics because of your anger at the state of the National Health Service."

To roars of laughter from Labour MPs, Mr Blair added: "You must have been incandescent when you were in Government.

"You were so angry it left you speechless because you never raised the state of the NHS."

The PM said that Labour had turned the NHS around.

"It is obvious that the combination of money and reform is delivering a better service," he said.

"We can be proud of our National Health Service again."

Mr Howard said people in some parts of the country had to wait 349 days for a knee operation, while in other parts they could be treated in 33 days.

He said: "Doesn't this show that patients should have the right to choose which hospital they go to in the NHS?"

But Mr Blair argued that Tory plans to fund 50 per cent of the cost of private operations would devastate NHS finances.

He said it was a "typical" Tory proposal. "First of all, it only goes to the few who can afford to pay 50 per cent of their operation.

"Secondly, it is to help people go out of the National Health Service not to stay in it. And thirdly, it takes money from the National Health Service."

He told MPs it showed the difference between Labour and the Tories.

Earlier, Labour MP Andrew Miller, who last month had emergency treatment for a blood clot, praised the NHS as the "jewel in Labour's crown".

Mr Blair said Mr Miller's experience was one "shared by many people in this country".

Turning to NHS dentistry, Mr Blair admitted there were "real problems, which we are addressing". But he blamed them on cuts when the Tories were last in power.

CAPTION(S):

FIGHTING TALK: Blair yesterday; ATTACKED: Howard