NHS Patients Let Down By Conservatives - Broomfield A&E Facing Downgrade

Conservatives Fail To Deal With NHS Blackhole

This week's autumn statement shows a Brexit blackhole at the centre of government finance. Parliament has heard that hundreds of billions will be taken out of the economy just when we need it most.

Liberal Democrats across our area and the country have been pushing the government to put their money where their mouth is - with an immediate £4 billion cash injection to stop the impending winter NHS funding crisis.

Commenting on the Autumn Statement, Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said:

"Figures forecast a rise in unemployment and a fall in living standards.

We are seeing a drop in tax receipts of £8.2 billion over the next two years alone. That's enough to fund over 330,000 nurses. In response the Chancellor offered nothing but reheated headlines and recycled announcements.

He and his Government are not competent to deal with the challenges ahead. They are going to hit people in the pocket through their hapless handling of Brexit, and Labour can offer no opposition, having backed them on Brexit.

Yet, the Liberal Democrats have consistently campaigned for more funding for the NHS as we are on the edge of another winter crisis and our health service is at breaking point but yet the government has turned a deaf ear to these calls.

Sadly now patients will pay the price. There is also nothing for public sector workers, our doctors, teachers and armed forces, who deserve a proper pay rise."

The effects of the relentless underfunding of the NHS are now being felt thoughout Essex. A recent proposal involving Broomfield, Southend and Basildon hospitals would almost certainly take key expertise and resources away from Chelmsford, potentially putting lives at risk. If the NHS were properly funded, it seems highly unlikely these changes would have been proposed.

Liberal Democrat leader on Essex County Council Mike Mackrory said:

"I am deeply concerned by the suggestion that Broomfield A&E could be downgraded despite the vital service it provides and the prospect of tens of thousands of new houses in mid-Essex whose residents will need good access to the NHS. We also need urgent investment in social care to reduce pressure on the NHS. It's shocking the Conservatives completely ignored health and social care in the Chancellor's Autumn statement last week."

We need your help to call for the £4 billion of emergency funding the NHS so desperately needs.

Please follow the link below to sign our petition.

chelmsford-libdems.org.uk/en/petition/emergency-nhs-funding

See the Liberal Democrat response to the autumn statement; http://www.libdems.org.uk/autumn-statement-demands

For more information regarding the proposed changes to Essex hospitals visit; http://www.successregimeessex.co.uk