NHS UNDERSPEND

3.05.35pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 7th Jun 2007

Senior Liberal Democrats in York are concerned that latest health figures now show an UNDERSPEND in the NHS totalling almost £500 million nationally. In the Yorkshire and Humber region the figure is £112 million.

Huge cuts in patient care have been made in North Yorkshire, and hundreds of jobs have been axed. Now the underspend suggests some of these cuts could have been avoided.

Cllr. Madeleine Kirk, Liberal Democrat York Outer Parliamentary Spokesperson said "We are seeing a continued lack of planning in our NHS. The finances are totally out of control, and the government keeps making knee-jerk reactions which is really dangerous for patient care.

"If we have now got a surplus of £112 million across our region, why were so many jobs cut and beds closed here in York? The government directed the pace and scale of national NHS cuts, yet the finances now suggest that those cuts were more severe than necessary.

"I would urge the Secretary of State, Patricia Hewitt MP, to let health professionals get on with their jobs, instead of undermining them at every turn. The government's record on the NHS is appalling - these boom and bust budgets are putting patients at risk. We need a thorough independent investigation into the finances of the NHS - it appears the government is unable to manage this service properly."