LIB DEMS SPEAK OUT AGAINST HOSPITAL CUTS (Scarborough and Whitby Liberal Democrats)

Scarborough and Whitby Liberal Democrats <info@scarboroughandwhitbylibdems.org.uk>

LIB DEMS SPEAK OUT AGAINST HOSPITAL CUTS

July 20, 2007 3:07 PM

Cllr Rob Broadley & PPC Tania Exley-Moore speaking out against Hospital Cuts.

Lib Dems in Scarborough and Whitby are speaking out against plans announced by the North East Yorkshire NHS Trust to cut 600 jobs. Local Lib Dems have been campaigning for months against the gradual erosion of services at Scarborough and Whitby Hospitals. Councillor Rob Broadley of Whitby said "First we have seen the demise of maternity services in Whitby, then the disappearance of the Pain Clinic in Scarborough. It was only a matter of time before the PCT were forced by ridiculous government targets to axe jobs".

The PCT have been in financial crisis for some time now and plans to cut local jobs are a last ditch attempt to reduce the Trust's £10 million deficit.

Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Scarborough and Whitby said "Our Health Trust was desperately underfunded by the previous Conservative Government and now Blair and Brown have imposed impossible targets for all PCTs to reduce their deficits. This deficit is historic and there is no way for the Trust to reduce it without cutting services and staff. What is criminal is that we are even talking about pounds and pence where our health and hospital services are concerned. Local people work hard and pay their taxes. They have a basic right to high quality, local hospitals. The government should be writing off the deficit and addressing the issue of under-funding."

Local Liberal Democrats will continue their fight to protect Scarborough and Whitby Hospitals and to have greater local accountability within the health service. If you would like to join this fight then sign our online petition now!