Worthing And Southlands Nhs Trust

EDM number 1199 in 1995-96, proposed by Alice Mahon on 18/07/1996.

That this House notes the national significance of development at the Worthing and Southlands National Health Trust in West Sussex; believes that recent developments at this hospital in the heart of Conservative Britain graphically illustrate the problems of underfunding in NHS trusts; believes it extraordinary that an NHS trust hemmed in by national targets should be forced to reduce beds on surgical and medical wards, reduce prescribing of drugs and surgical equipment, delay ward modernisation, defer equipment replacement, reduce porterage and cleaning services, and introduce changes in care nursing shift working, in order to keep within budget; believes that despite denials by this trust and many others in a similar position, the inevitable consequences of these cuts is reduced patient care; considers the Worthing and Southlands experience to be of national significance in so far as it symbolises the dilemma faced by health service managers at a local level throughout the country; and begs a reply to the simple questions: why should patients suffer inconvenience, why should admissions to wards be blocked when beds are available, and why should employees suffer inconvenience to balance inadequate budgets in conditions where taxpayers demand and are prepared to fund quality, uninterrupted services.

This motion has been signed by a total of 27 MPs.