Hewitt must take personal responsibility if NHS doesn't Break Even

1.29.47pm GMT Tue 21st Nov 2006

The Liberal Democrats today asked the Health Secretary if her job was safe following the many reports of staff redundancies in the NHS. Liberal Democrat member of the Health Select Committee and Health Spokesperson, Sandra Gidley MP challenged Patricia Hewitt to take personal responsibility if the NHS does not break even by the end of the financial year.

Commenting, Sandra Gidley said: "The only way a Secretary of State can take personal responsibility is to step down if they haven't fulfilled their pledges. Will she promise to do this at the end of the year if the NHS does not break even?

"This Government denies local communities any real say in how their health services are run and then blames local managers when hospitals run into problems.

"The Health Secretary's comments are a slap in face for those staff who have helped achieve the Government's distorted priorities."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

During the session, Patricia Hewitt claimed that some trusts have taken on too many staff to achieve their targets early.