CONCERN FOR ISLINGTON'S HEALTH FUNDING- Govt shunts NHS costs onto Councils in funding crisis Islington's Lib Dem Council Leader, (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

CONCERN FOR ISLINGTON'S HEALTH FUNDING- Govt shunts NHS costs onto Councils in funding crisis Islington's Lib Dem Council Leader,

December 14, 2006 11:57 AM

Cllr Kempton: London council leaders are uniting against Labour's health cuts

James Kempton, today welcomed support from council leaders across London for a Lib Dem led call to action on London's NHS funding crisis, after urging London Leaders to take a stand on the damaging health cuts by the Labour Government across the capital.

London Council leaders all agreed to a Liberal Democrat motion, which expressed "deep concern" about "damaging cuts" to local health services in the Capital at a meeting this week.

Many London Councils are reporting that their local health services are being forced to cut services to meet London NHS overspends and they fear it will be council tax payers that are left to pick up the bill for services that should be funded by the NHS.

London Councils are now seeking urgent meetings with the Secretary of State for Health and the Chair of London's Strategic Health Authority.

Cllr James Kempton, Islington's representative on London Council's Leaders committee, said:

"We're already facing the reality of service cuts in Islington. The Government needs to wake up to this issue, which is causing massive concern around London. Due to Government interference in NHS budgets, health services all over the Capital are having to cutting services and leaving local Council Tax payers to pick up the bill."

"Islington's Primary Care Trust has a good record in balancing its budget, but now the government has come along and removed the funding it was relying on. And just last week it was reported that four new health centres that were due to be built as part of the Arsenal stadium development might have to be to be mothballed because of lack of funding.

"Government is responsible for managing NHS budgets. Labour politicians keep on saying that they're pouring money into the NHS - that's the spin, but the reality on the ground is that services are being cut, and it is the patients who will suffer."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Health issues in London resolution, tabled by Lib Dem leaders and agreed unanimously by London Councils Leaders Committee, 12 December 2006:

"Leaders Committee:

"1. expresses its deep concern at the funding difficulties facing

the NHS in London, which is leading to damaging cuts to local health provision in many boroughs and significant costs being shunted onto many London councils;

"2. requests a report at its February 2007 meeting detailing the

impact of the above in each borough;

"3. seeks an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State for Health;

"4. invites the Chair of the London SHA to address its February 2007

meeting."