Press Release
Contact: Richard Burt 07970 713 032
Embargo: Immediate 15th January 2007
LIB DEM CANDIDATE PLANS 'SAVE OUR HEALTH SERVICE' RALLY
Worcestershire’s deepening health service crisis means that the newly formed
Worcestershire Primary Care Trust must save nearly £17million by the end of this
financial year to balance its books.
Fears that PCT bosses will be forced to impose huge cuts to meet the target have
prompted West Worcestershire’s Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard
Burt to call a mass public rally to defend local NHS services.
Protesters will be invited to gather for the march and rally at Priory Park,
Malvern on Saturday 10th March. Further details will be released once
discussions on timing and the route have taken place with the police and other
authorities.
“Last year, the former South Worcestershire PCT announced cuts to 19 health
services including cancer care beds, district nurses and out-of-hours GP
services.
“Public outrage and delays in axing the services led to the suspension of many
of the cuts. But now the new PCT has inherited the debts of all three previous
county primary care trusts – South Worcestershire, Redditch and Bromsgrove and
Wyre Forest – which merged last October.
“New chief executive, Paul Bates has admitted that he has no new plans to save
£17 million, except by revisiting cuts similar to those rejected as unacceptable
last year.
“Adding to the pressure, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt told the Health Select
Committee in November that she would take “personal responsibility” to balance
NHS books by the end of this financial year.
“Of course we need to make services more efficient, but Gordon Brown’s ‘Alice in
Wonderland’ accounting rules, constant reorganisation and moving Whitehall
targets have plunged many NHS trusts into financial difficulties and left no
room for any solution other than cuts.
“That is why I am determined to ensure that local people have their say. We need
to send a clear message to Patricia Hewitt and Gordon Brown that you can’t pay
for government’s NHS mismanagement with hospital beds and patient services in
Worcestershire.”
Rally details will be posted on www.richardburt.org
Ends.
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