Government has no answers on Oxfordshire NHS Cuts

5.06.41pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 6th Feb 2007

Responding to a question posed today by Dr Evan Harris, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West & Abingdon about the Oxford health cuts, Health Ministers failed to give an answer. [Question: What assessment she has made of the number and nature of reductions in clinical and care services that may be required to achieve financial balance in the NHS in Oxfordshire. Answer: None]

Dr Harris said:

"It is astonishing that the Government has made no assessment of the cuts required to clear the deficits, especially when the deficits were caused by Government-imposed targets.

"When I pointed out that the PCT was being forced to restrict consultant-to-consultant referrals and to consider restricting access to hysterectomy, tonsillectomy, and D&C as they have for hernias and varicose veins, the Government had nothing to say.

"The PCT are also carrying out a policy of elective stretch, and when I suggested that this meant that patients waiting less than the maximum waiting time were being forced to wait for the maximum time allowed, the Minister did not refute this.

"Unlike the Conservatives in the county, I supported the increased resources for the NHS and the tax rises that paid for them and that means the Government have no good response to my criticisms. In fact the Minister was cut off by the speaker in his second answer for wandering off the subject."