Save Bridlington Hospital

Campaigners today demanded guarantees that services would not be cut as health officials face another funding cutback.

The Yorkshire Wolds and Coast Primary Care Trust is already heading towards an £11m deficit at the end of this financial year, in two weeks.

Now it has suffered a fresh blow with news the Government could cut cash from its £177m budget next year .

The Government is dropping a scheme called purchaser parity adjustment - subsidies for areas that are overspent - which could cost the PCT about £1.4m

Today the PCT admitted it did not yet know how the shortfall would affect services in the East Riding.

But June Barton, of Hornsea Cottage Hospital League of Friends, said: "It's a bitter disappointment this funding may be lost. The PCT is struggling to meet demands. Any cut in services will bring hardship."

Joan Heathershaw, 75, secretary of Hornsea Residents' Association, said: "The trust is not being given enough money to do the things it is being told to do."

The Mail launched its Hands Off Our Hospitals campaign after the PCT announced a review of services in November 2004. At the time, the trust said the review was not linked to any financial deficit.

The PCT backed down on proposals to close Hornsea Cottage Hospital's minor injuries unit in January.

Last year, Driffield's Alfred Bean Hospital and the Macmillan Wolds Unit at Bridlington Hospital were spared cutbacks after campaigns from residents and the Save/Support Bridlington hospital Campaign Group.

The PCT will meet later this month to discuss opening hours at Hornsea and Withernsea hospitals.

Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, said: "This is more evidence of the financial controls in the NHS. This is a blow and shows the Government has lost all control and credibility in running the NHS."

A spokesman for the PCT said it was unable to predict exactly how the loss of cash would impact on patient care.

The Government is in the process of changing how it calculates funding for individual operations and until the new rules are in place it would be impossible to say how the budget would be affected.

PCT's pay hospitals for operations and, if the charges are higher, the loss of £1.4m would have a bigger impact.

www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/handsoff - Hands Off Our Hospitals

Mick Pilling writes: It's high time the Government stopped playing these games and got the NHS back to normality; Cuts Cost Lives ; taking any cash in any form from the NHS can only spell DANGER! We must be all fools to put up with this; we must stand our ground and demand a fairer NHS for all, cut post-code prescriptions, do away with PCT's who waste money employing Fat-Cats and put the money onto the front-line.......Save lives...don't take them by reducing services....Support All Campaigns for a Fairer NHS; before it's too late.

CASH BLOW FOR HOSPITAL TRUST
Campaigners today demanded guarantees that services would not be cut as health officials face another funding cutback. The Yorkshire Wolds and Coast Primary Care Trust is already heading towards an £11m deficit at the end of this financial year, in two weeks. Now it has suffered a fresh blow with news the Government could cut cash from its £177m budget next year . The Government is dropping a scheme called purchaser parity adjustment - subsidies for areas that are overspent - which could cost the PCT about £1.4m Today the PCT admitted it did not yet know how the shortfall would affect services in the East Riding. But June Barton, of Hornsea Cottage Hospital League of Friends, said: "It's a bitter disappointment this funding may be lost. The PCT is struggling to meet demands. Any cut in services will bring hardship." Joan Heathershaw, 75, secretary of Hornsea Residents' Association, said: "The trust is not being given enough money to do the things it is being told to do." The Mail launched its Hands Off Our Hospitals campaign after the PCT announced a review of services in November 2004. At the time, the trust said the review was not linked to any financial deficit. The PCT backed down on proposals to close Hornsea Cottage Hospital's minor injuries unit in January. Last year, Driffield's Alfred Bean Hospital and the Macmillan Wolds Unit at Bridlington Hospital were spared cutbacks after campaigns from residents and the Save/Support Bridlington hospital Campaign Group. The PCT will meet later this month to discuss opening hours at Hornsea and Withernsea hospitals. Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, said: "This is more evidence of the financial controls in the NHS. This is a blow and shows the Government has lost all control and credibility in running the NHS." A spokesman for the PCT said it was unable to predict exactly how the loss of cash would impact on patient care. The Government is in the process of changing how it calculates funding for individual operations and until the new rules are in place it would be impossible to say how the budget would be affected. PCT's pay hospitals for operations and, if the charges are higher, the loss of £1.4m would have a bigger impact. www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/handsoff - Hands Off Our Hospitals Mick Pilling writes: It's high time the Government stopped playing these games and got the NHS back to normality; Cuts Cost Lives ; taking any cash in any form from the NHS can only spell DANGER! We must be all fools to put up with this; we must stand our ground and demand a fairer NHS for all, cut post-code prescriptions, do away with PCT's who waste money employing Fat-Cats and put the money onto the front-line.......Save lives...don't take them by reducing services....Support All Campaigns for a Fairer NHS; before it's too late.

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