ONE of the region's foremost experts on the NHS has urged the Government to abandon much of its policy on the Health Service.

David Hunter, professor of health policy and management at Durham University, believes that in many areas of health policy, New Labour has got it wrong.

Writing in the Health Service Journal, Prof Hunter warns that there is an over-emphasis on treating patients rather then preventing illness.

"No matter how much money is put into health, the demand will always be for more," writes Prof Hunter, who says the Government should take public health more seriously.

Prof Hunter also criticises the Government's tendency to look to the private sector for help.

"We are in danger of creating a shell organisation - a health service publicly funded but increasingly privately provided," he writes.

Despite the Government's view, there was no good evidence to believe the private sector does things better and is a natural innovator, he adds.

Prof Hunter also criticises the Government for its "obsession with targets, inspection and transparency", which seems likely to reinforce "a management culture that is risk-averse".

Prof Hunter said he was uneasy that the Government's role model in health appears to look towards the US.

"That deeply unequal society ought to have little to teach us about healthcare policy. Sadly, some believe otherwise. It could be their biggest mistake," he adds.