Shock at Further Hospital Cuts (North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats)

North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats <bedford@bedfordlibdems.org>

Shock at Further Hospital Cuts

October 10, 2006 4:12 PM

Cllr Christine McHugh Bedford Borough Liberal Democrat Councillors have expressed their shock and dismay at the announcement of further cuts amidst the deepening financial crisis at Bedford Hospital. A series of cutbacks in the current financial year will include the closure of a further 34 beds by December, while the hospital's financial deficit could grow to a massive £16.9 million.

Bedford Hospital has identified savings of £5 million which will be achieved through a range of measures including the bed closures, which follow the closure of 79 beds last year, and the cancellation of plans to replace the hospital's operating theatres. In spite of this, the hospital's own projections reveal that a potential change in the formula for redundancy payments for NHS staff could see the financial deficit increase by 42% in the current financial year.

Commenting on the issue, Liberal Democrat Councillor and Deputy Group Leader Christine McHugh said:

"This is further bad news for the people of Bedford, who have to face the consequences of the damaging cuts at their local hospital. In spite of these ongoing cuts and their devastating effect on staff and patients, it also now emerges that the hospital's deficit may escalate alarmingly in the coming months. I believe this crisis has been provoked by the government's short-termism and constantly moving financial goal posts. Hospital Trusts such as Bedford need a period of stability to regain a financial balance over several years, not cuts to balance the books in the short term."