Labour's Health Bombshell!

1.05.04pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 16th Nov 2004

Manchester Lib Dem Deputy Leader John Leech has reacted angrily to a report from Council Chiefs that points out that Manchester Health Trusts will loose £21.4 million over the next three years due to census blunders by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Worse affected is the South Manchester PCT which is owed £10.7million, followed by the Central PCT which is owed £6.3million and North Manchester PCT which is owed 4.4 million. All three PCT's are in the top10 worst affected by the census blunder.

Cllr Leech said today, " When the ONS agreed they had got the census figures wrong, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) rightly agreed to adjust their grant to Manchester City Council to pay back what they owed. Why can't the Health Department do the same thing and give our hospitals the £21.4million they have lost?"

Cllr Leech added, "My constituents in South Manchester did not make this mistake, it was done by Central Government. We should not have to wait till 2006/7 for this money, we should get it now!"

For Further Information contact Cllr John Leech