'IF we want sustained investment in the National Health Service over a period of time, we are going to have to pay for it." With that confession during a live television debate on Wednesday evening, the Prime Minister sent out a clear signal that taxes will rise in the Budget on April 17.

He said in public what the rest of the country realised some considerable time ago; that the extra money for the NHS would have to come out of the pockets of each and every one of us who use it.

To pretend that the improvements demanded by the public and planned by the Government could be funded without increasing our tax burden was absurd.

We rejoice in Mr Blair's rejection of the ridiculous notion that the billions of pounds needed to repair years of under-investment in our health services could continue to be found in existing revenue streams.

While we await with interest the detail of how the money will be raised, there is little opposition to the principle of increasing taxes to help the NHS.

Indeed, two years ago, we appealed to the Chancellor to reverse plans to cut a penny off income tax, and instead divert the equivalent £2.65bn a year to our hospitals. It is a matter of regret that our advice was not heeded, and that, as a result, the NHS has been denied £5bn over the past two years.

Both Labour and Conservatives misread the mood of the people. The main parties thought the honest approach, admitting taxes would have to increase to bale out the NHS, would damage their electoral fortunes. They were wrong.

At the last two elections, the Liberal Democrats had the courage to call for tax increases to fund public services, and benefited accordingly on polling day.

It is a matter of regret that Mr Blair has neither the honesty nor the courage to promote tax increases until the security of five years in office, two election victories and a thumping parliamentary majority was achieved. Nevertheless, we welcome his belated conversion to the cause.

He may take some comfort from our belief that he will not lose the next General Election because he raised taxes to fund NHS investment.

He may be defeated, however, if he fails to deliver improvements and the voters see no tangible benefits from their financial sacrifice.