NHS Cuts Will Hit The Poorest - Teather

10.27.47am GMT Mon 29th Jan 2007

Sarah Teather is working with local NHS staff

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East, Sarah Teather, has told a public meeting organised by Brent Unison that cuts to NHS services in Brent will disproportionately affect the poorest and most vulnerable in the borough.

Services now likely to be axed in the tPCT's cost savings programme include translator services in GPs practices, mental health care programmes, school nurses, alcohol and drugs advisory programmes and over ten clinics across Brent.

Local MP Sarah Teather told the meeting that everyone in the community needed to work together to fight the Government over the cuts, and promised to stand side by side with protestors.

The meeting was also attended by Dawn Butler, a former Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Department of Health. The Labour MP defended Tony Blair's Government over the cuts to Brent healthcare.

Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"It was great to see so many people coming together to demonstrate how strongly we feel about these cuts to Brent NHS services.

"Incredibly the tPCT say that caring for people with mental health problems, alcohol or drug addictions, or those who need a translator to speak to their GP isn't 'core' to the business of the NHS. But without these services some of the poorest and most vulnerable in our community are left alone and without care.

"We have a long history in Brent of protecting those who need our help. The public strength of feeling on this issue is clear and I hope that many more people will join our campaign over the coming weeks and months.

"I have already written to Patricia Hewitt and raised the cuts in parliament. I will continue working alongside local campaigners in the fight against the Government. We must protect jobs and vital services in Brent."

Notes:

Sarah Teather spoke at Brent Unison's public meeting on Wednesday 14th January, at 7:30pm at Willesden Green Library.