Burstow calls for debate on "false economies" in the NHS as chaos continues at St Helier

12.00.00am GMT Fri 23rd Feb 2007

Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam, has expressed his disappointment after Jack Straw, Leader of the House of Commons, refused to accept a debate on false economies in the Health Service, despite evidence of continuing financial crisis in London's health economy.

Mr Burstow's demand came as the NHS 3rd Quarter Financial Report revealed that the health economy in London - and in South West London in particular - is still in dire straights. Both Epsom and St Helier Hospital Trust and Sutton & Merton Primary Care Trust have budget deficits equivalent to nearly 3% of their total turnover. Across London as a whole, the NHS has a deficit of £125,332,000.

Mr Burstow asked Mr Straw for the debate a week after Epsom and St Helier Trust representatives confessed that 1 in every 3 light bulbs in hospitals across the Trust were removed in an attempt to save money on energy bills.

Speaking after the debate, Paul Burstow MP said:

"Mr Straw's response to my request for a debate is an insult to all the people in Sutton who rely on services offered by Epsom and St Helier."

"Mr Straw told me this was a matter for discussion at a local level, but the fact is that crucial decisions about our health services are being taken by unaccountable bosses."

"Short-sighted cost-saving measures such as removing light bulbs and cutting back on cleaning budgets are a direct result of Government policy."

"If this is not an appropriate topic for debate in the House of Commons, I don't know what is."