Weston hospital's financial position remains weak

THE article in last week's Mercury about cutbacks at Weston General Hospital made alarming reading. With another black hole in the finances confirmed at the end of March, Weston hospital now has the unenviable record of having reported a deficit running into millions of pounds in each of the last five years. Despite being an efficient and successful hospital, its financial position remains weak. We now see signs that patient care and staff morale may need to be sacrificed in order to balance the books. The Mercury reports that some 150 jobs could be axed over the next couple of years as the NHS Trust looks to make multi-million pound savings. Parking charges will be introduced for doctors and nurses. The Audit commission has previously expressed concerns about the financial management of Weston hospital with deficits, poor financial forecasting and unachieved savings plans the norm. I look to Trust managers to offer assurances that this does not remain the case.The NHS needs financial stability and a halt to endless targets and new initiatives. Health professionals need to be respected and trusted to get on with their job free from Whitehall interference. Most crucially, patients must come first before the bottom line and the marketplace.MIKE BELL - Prospective Liberal Democrat MP for Weston