Government lies on NHS funding mean cuts to services - Farron
A leading Conservative MP and health expert has accused the government of lying to the public about funding given to the NHS, reinforcing fears raised by Tim about cuts to local health services. Secret plans for the future of NHS services in South Cumbria have yet to be revealed.
Tim has repeatedly raised the issue of underfunding for NHS services in our area. A recent report shows that NHS services in Lancashire and South Cumbria face an £805m deficit by 2021. Secret plans are now being drawn up for the future of services in the area, but details have not been released. In other areas of the country, plans have been leaked which include the closure of hospital wards and major cuts to services.
Dr Sarah Wollaston, a Conservative MP and Chair of the Commons Health Select Committee, has written an open letter to the government accusing them of giving a "false impression that the NHS is awash with cash", while leaving services severely underfunded. She claims the government is being dishonest when it says it is allocating an extra £10bn to the NHS in England over the next five years. The letter points out that NHS funding per person will fall in 2018-19, and also highlights the "crisis in social care provision".
Tim said: "When even leading Conservative MPs accuse the government of lying to the public about NHS funding, it is clear that the future of our local NHS is in crisis.
"Unless the government provides the funding our local NHS desperately needs, the services people rely on will be slashed. By 2021 our NHS in South Cumbria and Lancashire faces a shortfall of £805million. The government must come clean about what its secret plans for NHS services in our area will mean.
"The Lib Dems have long called for better integration of health and social care, with proper funding to create a long-term, sustainable solution. This letter shows that it is needed now more than ever."
The letter from Dr Sarah Wollaston MP can be read here: