Worcestershire PCT Funding Chaos Threatens Patient Services

9.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 13th Nov 2006

Recent predictions of a 17 million pound year-end debt for the newly-formed Worcestershire PCT can only mean more pain for patients as the Government ploughs ahead with its new business accounting model for NHS trusts, said West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, Richard Burt.

"Having threatened to hit Trusts in deficit with a double whammy, cutting the same amount as the overspend from next year's budget as well as requiring the Trust to make up the losses within the same year, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt is now reduced to spending money top sliced from those Trusts still in balance to bail out those in debt.

"This chaotic situation simply means that Government is recycling money from one year to the next without any clear strategy to eliminate overall debt - apart from forcing Trusts to cut jobs and services to patients.

"The NHS in Worcestershire cannot be micro-managed from Whitehall. Local people and health professionals must be given a far greater say in deciding on clinical needs according to locally determined priorities," added Richard Burt.