"The Government should be providing more support to the NHS in Andover, not cutting it"

11.44.07pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 30th Mar 2005

Reacting to the news of possible staffing cuts in the Mid Hampshire PCT and the Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare Trust, Martin Tod, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for North West Hampshire commented:

Martin Tod talking to Health Care Staff

"The Government should be investing more resources in the local NHS, not cutting back. Andover is planned to grow, not shrink, so this announcement makes little sense. It's essential that local front line staff are protected."

"The way this has been announced is also very confusing and very worrying for everyone who uses or works for the NHS in the local area. The public meeting they held in Andover on Tuesday did little to reassure local residents. It's also unacceptable that the local Healthcare Trusts are not promising to consult the public on their plans."

NOTE:

The Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare Trust and the Mid Hampshire Primary Care Trust announced late last week that they will be asking their Trust Boards to approve a reduction of 5% in staff costs as part of their current year's recovery plan. This is estimated to be the equivalent of about 150 jobs across both Trusts. At a meeting in the White Hart in Andover on March 22nd, trust representatives refused to give details of how the cuts will be achieved.