|
Basildon and Thurrock NHS patients 'face |
Healthcare patients in Basildon and Thurrock are to be subjected to £52.6 million in NHS cutbacks as the government attempts to bring the area's NHS trust back within budget.
According to ThisisEssex.co.uk, the radical measures aim to see more patients treated in the community as opposed to in hospital, with diabetes, chronic lung disease, heart and mental health patients all affected.
Some £20 million of the cuts in funding are expected to come from hospitals, with the rest from GP surgeries, dentists and other healthcare providers.
This comes after it was announced that the South West Essex NHS Trust had a deficit of £12 million in January 2010.
Derek Morrison, a spokesperson for the trust, said: "Ensuring we continue to invest in improved healthcare services can only be achieved in the current financial climate by taking some very tough decisions about priorities."
However, concerns have been raised regrding whether this will result in an increase in clinical negligence claims.
Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp, who heads the Clinical Negligence team at Kester Cunningham John, comments: "It is to be hoped that the cutbacks do not in fact lead to more clinical negligence claims against the Basildon and Thurrock NHS Trust but as many of the claims against that Trust are to do with systemic failures and lack of competence there should not be a direct link with resources.
"However, if so many more patients are to be treated in the community and yet GP and other health providers' funds are going to be reduced it must be a worry for those with chronic conditions such as diabetes, and the elderly, who may end up having less access to treatment when they need it."
Earlier this month, it was reported that NHS trusts all over the country may have to reduce spending in order to claw back a £130 million countrywide debt.
|
|
