This document sets out how we will meet our pledge that no one will wait more than 18 weeks for NHS treatment.

18 weeks with no hidden waits and no hidden charges.

We will do this in three ways.

First, by increasing capacity in the NHS.

We are undertaking the biggest hospital building programme since the NHS was founded with over 130 new hospital schemes in the pipeline.

This will enable us to treat more patients, faster.

Secondly, by increasing patient choice so that spare capacity in the system is used as efficiently as possible and patient can opt to have a faster operation by going somewhere other than the local hospital.

A choice of four or five hospitals by the end of this year, around 50 by the end of next year and any hospital in England which meets the NHS tariff by 2008.

Thirdly, by buying in more capacity from the independent sector - in fact an extra 250,000 operations which will help to cut waiting times for patients.

Crucially, this capacity will be used to treat NHS patients in line with NHS values - free at the point of use and always with the judgement based on clinical need, not ability to pay.

Labour's plan for the future of the NHS is in stark contrast to the Conservative record when some people were waiting 18 months for treatment.

It is also in stark contrast to the Tory plan for the future which is to encourage people to leave the NHS and pay thousands of pounds if they want a quicker operation.

With Labour, more of the capacity in the private sector will be used to benefit the whole NHS, with treatment free at the point of use and always on the basis of clinical need.

With the Conservatives - money taken is out of the NHS to allow a small number of patients to go private if they want a quicker operation and patients having to pay the balance - �5,750 for a heart bypass operation, �3,250 for a hip replacement.

The choice is clear - Investment in the NHS with Labour or back to the Tories, back to cuts and back to charges for quicker operations.