Mike Penning MP calls for stop to hospital cuts

Mike Penning uses his first appearance at the Dispatch Box to call for a stop to hospital cuts

Newly promoted MP, Mike Penning has used his first appearance at the Dispatch Box as a front bench Conservative spokesman on health to call for a stop to hospital cuts around the country.

Confronting Health Secretary Alan Johnson, over his recent remarks quoted in the Health Service Journal that

“We have listened a bit too much to the British Medical Association and not enough to unions like Unison”

Mike told Mr Johnson that in that case perhaps he will take account of a recent statement from Unison’s Head of Health Karen Jennings. Talking about 600 redundancies to be made by the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust she has said:

“These 600 compulsory redundancies will resonate across the NHS and strike fear into the hearts of local communities.”

Mike told MPs:

“The cuts are based on deficits, not clinical care. Will the Secretary of State step in and stop those cuts, which are affecting care in our hospitals?”

Afterwards, Mike added:

“Healthcare professionals from all across the board – the BMA and the unions – know that it is fundamentally wrong to have our healthcare managed by accountants. Hemel is just one example from across the country where vital services are being lost to make up financial deficits.”