John Penrose

Conservative Party | Weston-super-Mare

NHS Deficits in North Somerset

North Somerset PCT is “staring down the barrel” as it attempts to balance its books says Weston-super-Mare MP John Penrose.

Mr Penrose’s comments come after the Department of Health published figures showing that North Somerset Primary Care Trust is forecasting a deficit of £12.0m up from £8.7 million for 2006/07 and £4.2 million in 05/06. 
Weston Hospital has reduced its deficit to £5.4m, down from £6.7 million in 07/07 and £6.9m in 05/06.  North Somerset is the only area in the southwest with a 'double deficit' in both its PCT and hospital.

Mr Penrose is calling on the Treasury to intervene to protect local NHS services. He said:

"Weston Hospital is starting to make real headway in dealing with its inherited financial problems. The new management team and the medical staff are taking some tremendously difficult decisions. Local people want a hospital which they can be proud of and which is financially stable. They're starting to bring the problem under control, but there's still a fair way to go.

"The Primary Care Trust is a different kettle of fish. The stark facts are that they still aren't getting enough money.  The Government's own targets say we should be getting £9M more health cash this year, which would slash the £12M deficit by three quarters. I've been badgering Health Ministers about this for some time and raised the issue during Prime Ministers Question Time. To be fair they've listened enough to close the gap a bit, but the problem's still there.

“I recently met with the SW health chiefs to thrash through the problems and I’m going to keep up the pressure to get the funding gap closed. Just a few months ago, I wrote to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt calling on her to increase local NHS funding at an above-average rate next year.

“Weston needs more, modern GP surgeries. We'll never do it until the Government gives us the funding that their own figures say we need and deserve."