Buxton Labour Highlight Health Concerns
Members of Buxton Labour Party hit the streets on Saturday morning campaigning to raise awareness of the current NHS bill, and the hidden cost of the Government’s wasteful NHS reorganisation in the Derbyshire PCT area.
New guidelines will force the local NHS to put aside £45,297,052 from their budget this year and next to pay for a costly NHS restructure that David Cameron repeatedly ruled out before the general election.
Cllr Caitlin Bisknell said: “Locally we have seen the PCT vote to close the Corbar Birthing Centre, East Midlands Ambulance Service lost a major contract to the private sector, and the number of people waiting more than 18weeks for treatment has risen 109% – all as a result of this government’s agenda of cuts and privatisation.
“It is scandalous that while local maternity and dental services are being axed, our local NHS is holding back millions of pounds to pay for a reckless reorganisation.
“Even before these plans have been finally agreed by Parliament, David Cameron’s reorganisation is hitting the NHS hard with costs already topping £3.4bn across the country. Spending this amount on a reorganisation is totally unjustifiable when local services such as Corbar are being closed, despite massive local opposition.
“Just 18months ago Cameron ruled out a top-down NHS reorganisation, yet within weeks of entering Number 10, he tore up his own words and ordered the biggest and most dangerous upheaval of the NHS since it began – aided and abetted by his coalition partner, the LibDems.”
The guidelines are buried in the Government’s new NHS ‘Operating Framework’ document which puts the the nationwide cost of the NHS reorganisation above previous estimates of £2-3bn, with Primary Care Trusts now holding back £3.44bn over two years.
Caitlin added: “The people of High Peak did not vote for these changes and our doctors, nurses and patients have already expressed huge concerns at the plans. Yet Cameron insists on carrying on with his Health Bill, ignoring public and professional opinion. But the time has come for him to listen, put the NHS first and drop his dangerous Bill.”
If you didn’t see us on Saturday but would like to find out more about our campaign or get a copy of leaflet, you can visit www.buxton.labourhighpeak.info. Labour is running a major national drive to unite the country in a call on the Government to drop its unwanted Health Bill and people are being urged to add their name to the Government online petition by Dr Kailash Chand at epetitions.direct.gov.uk.