news story
5th March 2007
Local MP to Challenge Minister at
Westminster over North Bristol NHS Trust Debt
Emma Bone (Lib Dem candidate for Filton
& Bradley Stoke, which will include Frenchay at the next election) and
Steve Webb, MP for Northavon, outside Frenchay Hospital
Northavon MP Steve Webb will tomorrow (Tuesday 6th) take a local
campaign to Westminster to call for action on the massive debts of North
Bristol NHS Trust. The Lib Dem MP has secured
a 90 minute debate at Westminster on the
Government's handling of NHS Trust debt, to which health minister Andy
Burnham will respond.
North Bristol Trust, which runs Frenchay and Southmead Hospitals, was
recently turned down for 'Foundation Trust' status because of
uncertainty over the future of its £100m debt, run up over the last five
years. In response, local MP Steve Webb and Filton & Bradley Stoke
candidate Emma Bone have joined forces to run a petition campaign urging
the Government to take urgent steps to cut the
burden of debt on the Trust. Already hundreds of
local people have signed online petitions or forms in local Focus
newsletters, with more signatures being added all the time.
Commenting on the campaign, Emma Bone said:
"Local people feel very strongly that our local hospital Trust cannot be
expected to find £100 million and still provide a high quality of
healthcare. This debt is like a millstone round the neck of our
local NHS, and I fully support Steve Webb's
call for a cut in the debt".
Northavon MP Steve Webb said:
"Our campaign has clearly struck a chord with local people who are
shocked at the scale of North Bristol's debts and who want something
done about it. The Government cannot leave our
local hospitals in limbo, not knowing whether
or not they will have to pay back all of this money. This is no
way to run a health service.
"If the Trust management can
convince the Government that their financial
health is now in order, then the Government should respond by writing
off some of the outstanding debt and making clear what rules will apply
to paying back the rest of the money that is owed".
Click here to read the debate
|