Stephen Metcalfe, MP for
South Basildon and East Thurrock, has come out in support of Basildon Hospital
in light of comments made by the local Labour candidate which suggested that
patient care is going backwards.
The candidate’s comments were
made in reference to recent figures which show that Basildon and Thurrock
University Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust has a deficit of £4.66m. The local
MP has hit back at the remarks, highlighting the drastic improvements made at
the Hospital in recent months.
Mr Metcalfe said: “In the
last couple of weeks we learned that Basildon Hospital has been brought out of
special measures, that it was rated ‘Good’ at its latest inspection, that there
are more hospital beds, patient care is improving, more nurses are on the
wards, and death rates are down.”
“I appreciate that £4.66m is a substantial sum but
this must be understood within the context of the improving standards and
planned investments designed to ensure patients are receiving the best possible
treatment. I have no doubt that the Hospital are committed to managing their
finances responsibly and it is a shame that Labour have resorted to
scaremongering rather than constructively engaging with the issues to ensure
that standards continue to improve.”
A spokesperson from the
Hospital said: “The trust is committed to providing excellent patient care that
is also value for money. In 2013/4 the trust board agreed a planned year
end deficit to make significant investments in quality, including opening
additional beds and employing more clinical staff, which improves care and
reduces our reliance on agency staff.”
“Continuing work to improve
care while ensuring the trust doesn’t spend more than it earns is our main
priority. As part of this aim the trust has launched a new cost improvement
programme to deliver major savings. Monitor, the foundation trust regulator,
has been fully updated on our financial plans for 2014/5.”
