HEALTH Secretary John Reid walked into an ambush today after senior NHS staff primed hard-pressed emergency workers to grill the minister during a visit to Manchester.

An internal document, disclosed to the Manchester Evening News in error, reveals that bosses at Central Manchester Trust asked staff to come up with a series of tough questions.

But Mr Reid said he had been glad to talk frankly with emergency staff.

"It wasn't in any way an aggressive or destructive session, it was constructive with good, sensible questions," he said.

"There were some good questions from people who are as committed as I am to the National Health Service.

"People tell me how it is and what they tell me is that although there are vast improvements going on, decades of under investment and heightened expectations and ambitions mean that we have got a long way to go."

Questions

The visit itinerary sent to the Secretary of State showed a maximum 30-minute meeting with "a cross-section" of emergency staff at Manchester Royal Infirmary

But the section of the document not seen by Mr Reid detailed the real questions staff were keen to have answered.

These included a withering attack on the government's attempts to reduce the number of people visiting A&E departments by pumping money into the 'failed' NHS Direct and walk-in centres.

Mr Reid also said that the planned £300m PFI investment to provide a new superhospital on the MRI site would not starve funds from GP and other community services.

"The amount of money being invested in the health service is the biggest in its history and bigger than any other comparable country because of that there should be enough to provide new facilities and to continue in improving existing services," he said.

A spokeswoman for the Trust confirmed the questions were part of an internal document which had been released in error.

But she said: "The questions were compiled by staff in A&E. The staff were asked what key questions they would like to put to the Secretary of State during his visit to the department. This was to make best use of his time."

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