Emergency debate highlights Bedford Hospital's double whammy

6.17.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 20th Sep 2006

"The government’s constantly changing goal posts have put the NHS into crisis. What the NHS needs most of all now is a period of stability."

Christine McHugh spoke at an emergency debate at the Liberal Democrat's Annual Conference today in Brighton to highlight the double whammy facing Bedford Hospital: tackling the deficit with drastic job cuts and facing the Strategic Health Authority review which is threatening services delivered by District General Hospitals.

Christine said, "We want our hospital to be properly funded and know that it will be properly funded next year and the year after that and the year after that. We must tell the government that we've had enough of their short-sighted, short-termism and constantly moving goal posts. Instead, it's time for a bit of TRUST. Trust in people - we can handle the truth about the cost of public services and trust in health professionals to do their job without your government's constant interference."

Lib Dems have long called for devolved decision making for local NHS services and for less Government interference in terms of target setting and central management.