Alistair Cameron slams ward closures

8.21.00pm GMT Thu 18th Feb 2010

Alistair Cameron, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Tewkesbury has strongly criticised plans by the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to cut up to 200 beds at Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General Hospitals.

Alistair said:

"The loss of so many beds will be terrible. Many GPs have already complained about the lack of beds in the county. The problem has got worse due to the recent closure of hospitals such as Winchcombe which in the past accommodated some of the overflow from Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General. The problem will be particularly acute during winter time when there will be a severe shortage of beds.

I believe the NHS is overloaded with too many government targets. We should be cutting the costs of administering these targets rather than losing valuable hospital beds."

Alistair will be contacting Dr Harsent, Chief Executive of the Foundation Trust and urging him to consider other ways of saving money such as reducing the cost of administering NHS targets