Sarah Congratulates Local Health Protesters

6.00.00pm GMT Tue 15th May 2007

Sarah Teather has supported the campaign to save NHS services

Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East, Sarah Teather, has congratulated local protesters on collecting over 2000 signatures on a petition calling on the Government to reconsider their crippling cuts to local health services.

The petition, organised by local people and signed by 2053 Brent residents including Sarah Teather, calls directly on Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt to 'reconsider the level of funding for our local health services'. The petition also condemns Brent tPCT for forcing vulnerable people and the Council Tax payer to pay for NHS cuts.

Local MP Sarah met with protesters outside the Department of Health, before they presented the petition to the government.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"It's great to see local people coming together to oppose the cuts. I was pleased to sign this petition and would like to congratulate everyone who has worked so hard to gather so many signatures.

"It's absolutely crucial that all the different community groups in Brent work together to stand up to the Government. Vulnerable people and the Brent Council Tax payer should not be forced to pay for this Government's financial mismanagement.

"Every week the list of cuts to our local services seems to grow. I have been fighting this in parliament, but our campaign is so much more effective when local people raise their voice as well. Now Ministers must listen to my constituents and promise to think again on this devastating programme of cuts."

Related Links:

Read the petition.

Read Sarah's parliamentary motion on NHS cuts in Brent.