Hospitals face hours reduction (From Gazette Series)

Hospitals face hours reduction

PLANS to cut vital NHS services across Gloucestershire have been criticised by Stroud District Council.

Its members hit out last week at a full meeting of the council after holding a heated hour-long debate.

They say the cuts could spell the end of Stroud Maternity Hospital and see a huge reduction in the opening hours of Berkeley Hospital, among others in the area.

Councillors, led by the Conservative Party, passed a motion expressing their concern at the proposed cuts, which said: "This council strongly condemns plans to cut NHS Services across Gloucestershire specifically in the Stroud District. "This council is deeply concerned that this will seriously undermine healthcare in our area, threaten quality of life for many vulnerable people and could ultimately put the lives of our citizens at greater risk."

They also agreed to write to the Secretary of State urging her to consider a convergence towards the national average funding for health services.

According to Stroud's Conservative Party, this deprives Gloucestershire health service of £70 million a year.

The motion was opposed by Labour councillors, who wanted to add their support for Stroud's hospitals on record.

They have also criticised the council's call for convergence.

Cllr Charlie Burling (Labour, Cairnscross) said: "The idea that "equality" means taking money from areas which have proven higher medical needs to give to other areas with fewer needs is preposterous."

"Money for health is given to each area according to how many children there are, how many older people, the incidence of long term illnesses and many other similar factors."