Farron: public deserves to know about NHS funding crisis

The public deserves to know about the funding crisis facing the NHS, according to Tim Farron, who is calling for NHS Trust deficits to be made public.

Figures released at the end of the third quarter showed that the Morecambe Bay Trust had a predicted deficit of almost £17 million by the end of the financial year. However, there are reports that the publication of the latest deficit figures from NHS trusts could be delayed until after the general election.

Tim said: "The public deserves to know the scale of the financial crisis facing our NHS so it can make an informed choice in the General Election.

"There is a clear choice in this election between the Conservatives, who want further cuts, and the Lib Dems, who have a fully-costed plan for investment in our NHS.

"Conservative plans will lead to dire consequences for patients, with longer waits and lower standards of care.

"The Liberal Democrats are being honest with the public that to rescue the NHS we will all need to chip in a little more. A penny in the pound on income tax would mean an extra £40million for Cumbria's NHS."