Lib Dems launch campaign against NHS cuts

1.13.16am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 14th Apr 2006

David McBride meets Lib Dem Leader Ming Campbell to launch the campaign against NHS cuts

Liberal Democrat councillors David McBride and Grace Goodlad have launched a campaign against NHS cuts that will drastically affect Bromley's residents.

Residents have been hit by the news in the past few weeks that Queen Mary's Hospital, which serves the Crays and Chislehurst, are to make nearly 200 nursing and midwife staff redundant. It also comes at a time when Government grants to the Council's Social Services are becoming increasingly uncertain.

The two Liberal Democrat councillors have submitted a motion to Bromley Council expressing concern about the cuts and criticising the Secretary of State for Health for imposing too much central control over local NHS Trusts. The local campaign comes as Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Menzies Campbell MP said that the Government should ensure local control of health services and allow professional to get on with their jobs.

Bromley's Liberal Democrat Leader, Cllr David McBride, said that Government meddling and control has meant that local NHS Trusts have been forced to make cuts. "It is time that Bromley Council added its weight to the call for less interference in local NHS services and more Government investment in our Social Services," he said.