Parmjit Discusses Tory Health Cuts with Health Secretary Andy Burnham

5th February 2010

Parmjit met with the Health Secretary, Andy Burnham MP, to discuss health issues in Gloucestershire and the Tory plan to cut funding in the future.  The Tories say their Health formula will give funds to deprived areas, but actually it will have a direct negative impact on the residents of Gloucestershire.

The Tories plan would take £109 from each Gloucestershire resident and allocate it to another region.  This 9% reduction in Gloucestershire’s NHS funding will have a severe impact on all of the Labour work that has gone into the area over the years.  Parmjit and the Labour Party continue to invest in the local hospital and make health a priority.  The newly rebuilt hospital cost £32 million to build and it continues to receive Labour funding in excess of £30 million.  Who's to say this would continue if the Tory party got in and started to make cuts to public services?

A shift in NHS allocation is not the correct approach to solve health issues since it will hurt many areas in the country such as Gloucester.  We are experiencing excellent health in Gloucestershire with longer open hours and better cancer treatment.  A cut in funding will do nothing but disrupt the great progress that has been made over the years in our community.