NHS deficit should be kept in perspective, minister says

Health secretary Patricia Hewitt has played down the idea that the NHS is in financial crisis.

Speaking to BBC Radio Four’s Today programme, the minister said that the deficit needed to be “kept in perspective” and that the trusts with serious financial problems are the “minority”.

“It is very important to keep this in perspective. Across the NHS as a whole we are taking about a deficit of around one per cent. If you are on ?20,000 that is like ending the year ?200 overdrawn,” Ms Hewitt said.

“What we are doing this morning is bringing together a number of hospitals who have had financial problems; they are in the minority of organisations with serious financial problems.”

The health secretary continued by saying that redundancies caused by overspending organisations were “unfair” but that it should also be noted that more staff are currently working in the NHS and that they are better paid.

Ms Hewitt and the prime minister today met with NHS bosses to discuss the reforms that are confronting trusts up and down the United Kingdom.

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