This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
NHS advised to 'think the unthinkable' on cuts
The Health Service Journal (HSJ) has reported that parts of the NHS in England are considering ‘savage’ cuts in a bid to meet financial targets.
Senior managers and officials from NHS England and NHS Improvement and health managers in 14 areas of the country with the highest overspends are discussing measures, with the 14 areas told to draw up radical plans to reduce overspending, including controversial and unpopular measures such as closures of maternity and Accident & Emergency departments.
The 14 areas under particular pressure, reported to be on course to miss agreed ‘overdraft limits’, are: Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; Cheshire (Eastern, Vale Royal and South); Cornwall; Devon; Morecambe Bay; Northumbria; North Central London; North Lincolnshire; North West London; South East London; Staffordshire; Surrey and Sussex; Vale of York and Scarborough and Ryedale.
Norman Lamb, former health minister and Liberal Democrat shadow health secretary, said: “These savage proposed cuts to frontline services show why we cannot allow Conservative underfunding of the NHS to continue. We have less than 48 hours left to save the NHS as we know it.
“Without more investment in the NHS, waiting times will increase, availability of treatments will be reduced and patients will suffer. We don't need to accept this. The Liberal Democrats will stand up to Theresa May on the NHS to ensure our hospitals receive the funding they need.”
No decisions have been made and that the options under discussion would require national sign-off. Decisions are expected to be revealed after the General Election on 8 June.
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