Mark Garnier, Conservative parliamentary Spokesman for Wyre Forest today expressed concern at new figures published this week showing worsening NHS deficits across the country. Inconsistent and poorly-planned Government policies have forced NHS trusts to a total of £1.3 billion into the red.
However, the Government incompetence has been slightly mitigated with an under spend by other trusts relieving the figure to show a net deficit of £536 million across the country. The 720 jobs already cut from Worcestershire's hospitals recently is symptomatic of the wider problem across the country, with NHS organisations now forced to respond to such massive deficits by making widespread cutbacks to frontline services. 60 NHS trusts country wide are suffering the same fate as Worcestershire, condemning 17,500 NHS workers to a bleak future as their jobs are cut directly as a result of Government incompetence and interference.
Mark Garnier said:
"It would be very unfair of me not to recognise some of the good that the Government has done for the NHS - I certainly welcome the fact that hard working nurses and other frontline staff are now paid a living wage.
"But I have three points to make that I think are important: Firstly, the incompetence of the government to be able to deliver its NHS policy has resulted in a very real human tragedy for 720 people in Worcestershire and 17,500 in the wider country who are losing their jobs. This is not acceptable. Secondly, every one of us who pays taxes is now contributing twice as much out of our pockets to pay for the NHS. What on earth is the government doing with our money and how dare it fritter away our hard earned income through incompetent management. Finally, Wyre Forest is famous for voicing its concern about labour health policy through the ballot box, with health campaigners winning elections since the labour Government decided to downsize Kidderminster Hospital. Yet voters in Wyre Forest must be asking the question: what does it take to get the Government to listen? If anyone were in any doubt about the need for a change of Government, health cuts in Worcestershire and the country as a whole are as good a reason as any."