The Wanless report into the future of health spending was released yesterday, calling for investment to be increased to as much as £184 billion per year.

The investment would be needed to transform NHS healthcare in line with world standards by 2022, the report said.

In the Budget, Gordon Brown accepted the Wanless recommendations, increasing health spending by 7.4 per cent a year over the next five years.

However, the report has been criticised by the Conservatives for failing to examine other methods of funding, such as social insurance.

"Labour have got a closed mind about the future of health care. Gordon Brown's terms of reference meant that Derek Wanless could draw only one possible conclusion," said shadow health secretary Dr Liam Fox.