Council fighting to stop new health budget cuts (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Council fighting to stop new health budget cuts

3:55pm Saturday 6th January 2007

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Around £7m is set to be sliced from Richmond health budgets in order to prop up shaky accounts in other London boroughs.

Workers could be facing job cuts as part of the cost-cutting exercise and service charges could see a massive hike if Government officers do not rethink plans.

Coun Nicki Urquhart, who chairs Richmond upon Thames' health overview and scrutiny committee, has taken her concerns to health minister Patricia Hewitt and says she will continue to fight the cuts.

She said: "This is very clearly a big issue for us.

"If they do not think again about these cuts we will go to the ombudsman."

In her letter to Patricia Hewitt, she said: "This council and the Richmond and Twickenham Primary Care Trust have worked extremely well in partnership over recent years to ensure our local residents receive high quality health services.

"The PCT has consistently performed well and has been one of the few London PCTs to stay within budget each year.

"It is therefore extremely frustrating to learn that despite this excellent management our PCT has to face a further £7m reduction in its budget for 2007/8 in order to support the London wide deficit.

"This will mean significant cuts in local health services will be necessary if the PCT is to stay within budget next year."

She indicated specific cuts would be among learning disability services and mental health services.

Coun Denise Carr, cabinet member for adult services, health and housing, said: "It is the Government's policy to penalise the PCTs who have been doing well in order to try and rescue the PCTs who have not been doing so well.

"Up until now Richmond PCT have managed to balance their books but councils across London are launching a major campaign because there are cash shortages in mental health which could mean service cuts."

Council leader Coun Serge Lourie said: "We will be doing all we can to fight these cuts.

"Richmond PCT has been in budget for the last four years.

"It's a very uncertain time and I'm sure this will run and run.

"We are being penalised for the incompetence in other areas of London."

The health overview and scrutiny committee will meet again on Tuesday, January 16.

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