Hewitt's NHS Trust cuts will hurt patients

8.51.52am GMT Fri 18th Nov 2005

Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Steve Webb MP has today accused the Government of shirking its responsibility to patients likely to be affected by a reported £700m NHS Trust deficit.

Commenting, Steve Webb MP said:

"It is ludicrous for the Department of Health to call for better planning by NHS trusts when its disjointed approach to a market for health services makes it impossible for local trusts to plan effectively.

"It is the Government that has created financial instability in the NHS. It is the Government that must take responsibility for the resulting cuts in frontline services."