The prime minister has mounted a strong defence of Britain's public services.

In a speech defending his government's approach to the management of the public services, Tony Blair called for more balance in the debate over public services. The speech, given in Newcastle to an audience of around 250 delegates and public service officials, comes in the wake of the Rose Addis affair, which has forced the government to defend the work done by public service workers.

Forum Response: Unison

Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, told ePolitix.com: "The prime minister has come a long way since the 'scars on my back' speech. I am heartened by his outspoken praise of public service front line staff. It will give out members, particularly those at the Whittington Hospital, a much needed boost after a week in which they have been used as a political football by the Tory Party.

"It is timely that the prime minister has seen the sense of what we have been saying for years that you cannot denigrate public service workers and get a world class service.

"Unison members have held together our public services over the past two decades through the most difficult times because they believed in them. And they, too, believe they are worth saving.

"I hope the fact that he has downplayed the role of the private sector, which is more concerned with profit than service, means the love affair is over. Always talking of bringing in the private sector to fix things, lowers morale just as much as constant criticism. The prime minister knows that the skills and expertise are there in the public sector if only they had the resources to deliver.

"Now we want to see those words translated into action by his secretaries of state. An end to gambling on the private sector and real investment, real reform, to get the sort of public services we want."

Forum Response: Royal College of Nursing

Dr Beverly Malone, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, told ePolitix.com: "The Royal College of Nursing remains committed to a National Health Service that is free at the point of delivery as the best way of delivering quality care to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. We are pleased to see recognition of the central role of nursing staff in delivering public services in the prime minister's speech.

"The key issue for improving health services to deliver a quality service is the expansion of NHS capacity, including staff. Unless the problems of recruitment and retention can be solved and the numbers of health professionals increased, plans for modernisation cannot come to fruition.

"This is why investment in the health service must include a commitment to the Agenda for Change pay modernisation process already underway. Pay for newly qualified nurses has indeed increased, but is still far behind that of police and teachers and the recent pay increase announcement of 3.6 per cent left nursing staff disappointed."