Massive Health Cuts Threaten Services at St Helier - Brake

1.54.28pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 23rd Oct 2006

Commenting today on the news that up to 480 jobs and 208 beds could be lost at the Epsom and St Helier University NHS Trust, Tom Brake MP for Carshalton and Wallington in those constituency St Helier Hospital is located said, "This is very depressing news both for the hard-working and committed staff at St Helier Hospital and for patients.

"The Trust must do everything within its power to minimise staff cuts and to ensure that there are no compulsory redundancies.

"And the Trust must guarantee that there will be no impact on the quality of patient health care.

"This is further evidence of a 'Boom and Bust' approach to funding the NHS. Short-term financial problems must not be allowed to threaten the long-term viability of St Helier Hospital."