Primary Care Trust performance getting worse - Burstow

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 22nd Oct 2007

Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam has spoken of his shock after the Healthcare Commission revealed that the Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust failed to meet key standards for dealing with major threats to the community, such as a flu epidemic

The findings come as part of the Annual Health Check report, produced by the Commission after assessing the performance of Health trusts across the country. Sutton and Merton was given an overall rating of 'weak'. This is a drop compared to 2005/6 where the Trust's performance was judged to be 'fair' across the range of services assessed by the Commission.

Commenting on this assessment, Paul Burstow MP said:

"I am deeply concerned to learn that Sutton and Merton's performance has got worse compared to last year.

"But I am even more shocked to learn that the Primary Care Trust is ill-prepared to deal with a flu epidemic, or other major health incident.

"I will be seeking a meeting to discuss these findings with Trust managers at the earliest possible opportunity."

ENDS