Lib Dem outrage at brush off from Hewitt

3.29.50pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 18th Dec 2006

With growing concerns over local NHS services, Haringey's Lib Dem councillors are fuming at a letter received from a junior official in response to a letter from Haringey's Overview and Scrutiny Committee to the Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt. The terse reply was signed by an official from a Customer Care Centre

Haringey's Overview and Scrutiny Committee had written to the Minister to draw attention to the severe pressure being put on the Haringey Primary Care Trust by the London Strategic Health Authority, which is regularly dipping into PCT budgets to bail out London Acute Hospital Trusts. Services have been cut, staff moral is low and there are fears of more cuts being made - in a borough with some of the most intense pockets of deprivation in the UK.

Hewitt's response has cause anger, with its dismissive tone and refusal to address any of the central issues raised by the Committee.

Lib Dem Health spokesperson Cllr Richard Wilson comments:

"Haringey experiences severe health inequalities and it is impossible for the PCT to provide and plan for services in this uncertain financial climate. Millions have already been grabbed from their budget with more on the way next year. Hewitt's response demonstrates the contempt this Labour Government has for the people that pay for the NHS".

Cllr David Winskill, who drafted the original letter, adds: "To get what looks like a stock reply from someone in a Customer Service Centre is appalling. Residents in Haringey have the right to expect ministers to take their concerns seriously. Colleagues on Overview and Scrutiny were genuinely shocked at the patronising tone and brevity of the response."