Government Should Apologise For Health Cuts - Teather

6.00.00pm GMT Tue 22nd May 2007

Sarah Teather is fighting for our NHS

Sarah Teather, Brent's local Liberal Democrat MP, has questioned Health Ministers in the House of Commons on the huge cuts to local health services. Sarah called on the Government to apologise to the people of Brent and to go back and think again.

Despite scaling back services this year, the Government admitted that Brent's health trust (tPCT) still has a forecast deficit of £17.6million. The Government is therefore forcing Brent tPCT to embark on further cuts which will hit vital services across the borough.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"Gordon Brown has so far spent £5billion on the illegal war in Iraq, yet he can't find cash to save vital local health services.

"Many of the Government's cuts are to services which keep people out of hospital in the first place. Getting rid of health visitors, mental health services, and drug, alcohol and sexual health advice will all store up long term problems for our NHS.

"Local people are fed up with the Government trying to wash their hands of any responsibility for the NHS. This disastrous policy will hit hardest on Brent's most vulnerable families, and the impact will last for generations. Once these services have gone they are lost forever.

"I was glad to be able to speak up for my constituents in parliament. Ministers owe the people of Brent an apology for their gross mismanagement of NHS finances."

Related Link:

Read how Sarah questioned Health Ministers in the Commons.