Evidence submitted by David Drew MP (Def
23)
There has been widespread and sustained outrage
across Gloucestershire at the drastic nature and extraordinary
scale of proposed cuts to local health services, currently subject
to consultation. If these are ultimately implemented, there will
indisputably be a disproportionate impact on services in the County,
given the level of deficits incurred by local trusts.
The reality is that our area is having to unfairly
carry the burden for the high levels of historic overspend in
other areas, exacerbated by a questionable interpretation of government
requirements on achieving financial balance by the Avon, Gloucestershire
and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority— and which has
not been sufficiently challenged by local trusts. The result is
that the SHA area is being asked to make savings amounting to
a staggering 5.3% of turnover, compared to an average of 3.4%
elsewhere, and the highest in the country. Such savings will have
a devastating impact on local services, professional teams and,
most importantly, on the health of our communities; and Gloucestershire
is being expected to bear the brunt of these cuts.
This situation is totally unreasonable and unacceptable,
and I would like to formally request that the Health Committee
take an urgent and specific look at the Avon, Gloucestershire
and Wiltshire SHA area, as part of its inquiry, as a test case
that would highlight key issues. Why has our SHA area, and Gloucestershire
in particular, had to bear such a heavy cut in budgets? Does it
really need to wipe out all historic and current deficits in this
financial year? Why, alone in the SHA area, have Gloucestershire
Trusts not received any assistance from Special Funds, or loans
to help them through a difficult transitional period?
I am keen to provide evidence to the Committee
on the specifics of the situation in Gloucestershire and look
forward to being invited to appear before it during the course
of this important inquiry.
David Drew MP
5 June 2006
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