A future Conservative government would not extend compulsory charging for NHS treatment but will help support those who wish to pay for their own treatment, Dr Liam Fox has pledged.

Addressing the Tory faithful, the shadow health secretary said that he had considered charging for some treatments but decided such a move would undermine the principal of making treatment available regardless of ability to pay.

"As a party we are fully committed to the values of the NHS - of high quality health care available to all irrespective of their ability to pay," said Fox.

But those who "abuse" the NHS by failing to attend scheduled appointments would face fines under the party's new policy.

"The health service should be free at the point of use, not free at the point of abuse," Fox said.

Around 1.56 million hospital appointments were missed in 2000, according to the Wanless report.

In a wide-ranging overhaul of Conservative healthcare strategy, Fox also said that "foundation hospital" status should be extended right across the NHS, and not just confined to the best-performing Trusts as the government currently plans.

Fox added that hospitals should be free to borrow private capital against their assets - effectively siding with health secretary Alan Milburn in his continuing dispute with the chancellor on "off balance sheet" financing.

"Let me be frank. The concept of foundation hospitals goes clearly in a direction with which a future Conservative government would be comfortable," said Fox.

"It is a concept we would want to dramatically expand. Indeed, Alan Milburn is breaking ground for us in a way that will make further reforms easier - which is why it is so important that Gordon Brown's objections are overridden.

"Unless the chancellor's opposition is dismissed, then any new proposals for greater autonomy will be a complete sham. Once again, New Labour will have borrowed the language without delivering the substance."

The shadow health secretary said that three aims would guide his approach to health policy - taking politicians out of the NHS, giving more freedom to the professionals, and giving real choice to patients.

Dr Fox said he would reduce NHS bureaucracy and abandon the government's "obsessive target culture".

"It is time to set our professionals free so that they can determine which of their patients need to be seen and in what order.

"And managers need to be free from ministerial meddling designed to fiddle the figures," Fox said.

The shadow health secretary also attacked those who argue that private health insurance was wrong - it relieved pressure on the NHS, he argued.

"When we return to office, we will recognise the contributions of those who take out insurance on top of their NHS contributions. And not before time either."

But Fox also said he would "go much further" and support those who paid for extra care from their savings.

"These patients are often elderly, using their hard earned saving to get the treatment they need in order to maintain their quality of life. They too should be helped as their sacrifice also reduces the burden on the NHS," he said.

Alan Milburn will set out the government's plans for NHS reform in a keynote speech on Wednesday.