Investment in NHS Has Not Stopped Job Losses

4.16.55pm GMT Wed 21st Mar 2007

Responding to Gordon Brown's confirmation today in the budget that £8 billion will be put into the NHS this year, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb MP said:

"Despite enormous investment, productivity in the health service has gone down, while deficits are affecting an increasing number of NHS organisations.

"This has led to services being cut and medical professionals losing their jobs. If the NHS is mired in deficit with high investment, what will happen when the money stops coming in from 2008?"

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. 35% of organisations are forecasting deficits [at the end of this financial year] compared with 33% at quarter two, according to. 'NHS Financial Performance Quarter Three 2006-07'

2. According to the King's Fund (Feb 2007), the Chancellor is expected to announce real terms cash increases in the next Comprehensive Spending Review of between 3.0 to 3.5 per cent per year for the NHS up to 2011/12 - less than half the annual increase received by the service every year since 2000.