RECKLESS CUTS COULD UNDERMINE LOCAL NHS

In the Comprehensive Spending Review George Osborne outlined the Government's commitment to protecting the NHS. However, whilst the NHS budget was not actually cut the reality is that the 'growth' in funding will not meet the growth in demand.

Nationally, the NHS must save £20 billion by 2014 which is 20% of its budget. Locally this means that Derby hospitals must save £20 million over the same period, which is 5% of its budget in each of the next four years.

This isn't what people expected when they heard David Cameron promise to protect the NHS. This will have a massive impact in Derby.

I only hope that NHS staff are able to maintain the excellent service standards which they currently provide, but I fear this is unlikely under such tight budget constraints.

Coupled with the cuts comes a complete restructuring of the NHS, with the plan to scrap Primary Care Trusts forcing GPs to take on the role of administering the NHS's £80 billion budget.

The Government is forcing GPs to take on the job of planning, buying and managing the rest of the NHS's services. People want GPs to concentrate on caring for patients, but this colossal task will detract from patient care.

The government's reckless plans could actually undermine the very foundations of one of Britain’s greatest institutions. No wonder they're happy to be described as 'Thatcher's children'.