14/10/06 - Watchdog Warns Patients Will Suffer From NHS Financial Crisis

Watchdog warns patients will suffer from NHS financial crisis

Growing public concern about threat of cuts to services

Cllr Justin Tomlinson & Robert Buckland, North & South Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman expressed concern at new research released by the Healthcare Commission, the Government’s NHS watchdog. Its ‘Annual Health Check’ reveals that England’s Primary Care Trusts (which control four-fifths of the NHS budget) are failing to manage their finances properly, which will harm the quality of care and services.

Swindon Primary Care Trust was given 'good' for its financial management. Nine out of ten PCTs across England were rated weak or fair; in this context fair means ‘on the edge of adequate’. None were given the top ranking of ‘excellent’. The Chief Executive of the health watchdog has commented, “this is a worrying picture... patients’ care will suffer in the end if this is not put right. There is no doubt that good financial management is linked to good quality services.”

Across the country, hospitals – large and small – are now facing closure due to financial problems, with an estimated 20,000 NHS posts being axed since the beginning of the year. The cuts come as Labour Ministers have revealed that the NHS has now run up a yearly deficit of £1,312,000,000 – the worst in its history.

Rob Buckland commented,

“I very much value the hard work of nurses, doctors and staff in our NHS hospitals. As David Cameron has asserted, the NHS is Conservatives’ number one priority. I am really concerned over the growing evidence of a financial crisis affecting our health service – for which Gordon Brown and ministers in Whitehall must take the blame.

Cllr Justin Tomlinson added,

“We need to cut back the continuing political interference in the NHS – to give staff the space to get on with their jobs, backed by a proper voice for patients and public over the running of local NHS services.”