Patients would get better services tailored to their needs under new proposals to free all hospitals from Whitehall, launched by the Liberal Democrats today.

The new policy paper introduces a whole raft of measures aimed at putting patients in the driving seat, and freeing up frontline NHS staff from Whitehall control.

The paper also outlines a holistic approach to the nation's health that treats prevention just as seriously as cure - tackling the causes of illness and encouraging a more healthy society.

The proposals include:

• PATIENTS IN CONTROL - Patients will be put in greater control of their health and their healthcare. People with long term diseases like MS will be given more control over what treatment they want from the NHS.

Busy shoppers will be able to choose healthier options through the introduction of clear labels on packaged foods.

• TACKLING THE 'MICROWAVE GENERATION' - Children will be given the opportunity to get into healthy habits at a young age.

The school curriculum will teach nutrition, cooking skills and pupils will have more opportunities for exercise in the school week.

• SCRAPPING TARGETS - Under the proposals, doctors and nurses will be freed up to treat patients more effectively by scrapping the one-size fits all targets forced upon them by Government.

• LOCAL HEALTH FIRST - Health priorities and services will be decided by local people through their local council. This will make the NHS more responsive to local needs.

• FREE PERSONAL CARE FOR THE ELDERLY - No-one should be forced to pay for their personal care.

• DEVELOPING A HEALTH MOT - Researching cost effective tests so people know when they have to act to control high blood pressure or cholesterol levels, for example.

• HONEST AND TRANSPARENT FUNDING - Ending the boom and bust in NHS funding through an earmarked "National Health Contribution" that would replace current National Insurance.

Commenting on the launch, Brian Dash said:

"Government is good at providing public services. We are all proud of our NHS.

But government is not good at managing the delivery of the Health Service from Whitehall. We believe that it must be devolved to local, accountable people who understand local needs.

In Denmark for example, the health service is delivered through County Councils. There is no reason why this could not be done in Hampshire.

We, in the Forest can't find an NHS dentist, believe that we need more doctors and are very supportive of our local hospitals at Hythe, Lyndhurst and Lymington.

All that and a new Hospital building project are well within the capacity of Hampshire County Council to manage.

In addition, the fact that the County Council is an elected body local people could throw out representatives if they didn't like the service - very different to the NHS complaints system."