Tuesday 25 July 2006

Impact of NHS deficits 'deepens'

The BBC reports today that dozens of hospitals are facing acute pressure and social care services are being scaled back because of NHS deficits, quoting two separate reports.

The Liberal Democrats said 16 NHS trusts, running 28 hospitals, were facing "high pressure". They said services would be scaled back and hospitals might even close.

And a Local Government Association survey of 55 councils in the areas affected by NHS deficits said some services had been withdrawn.

The health service finished last year more than £500m in deficit, with one in three NHS bodies failing to balance their books.The problems have already led to jobs being cut, operations delayed and wards closed.

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