§ 9. Lady Olga MaitlandTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of health provision by St. Helier NHS trust. [5618]
§ Mr. BurnsThe St. Helier NHS trust provides a comprehensive range of good quality services to more patients than ever before.
§ Lady Olga MaitlandI thank my hon. Friend for his kind words about the magnificent track record of the St. Helier trust. Is he aware that, despite the Government's commitment of £1.6 billion extra resources to the health service, my local health authority of Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth is deeply concerned about a shortfall of £4 million, of which £1 million affects St. Helier? Will my hon. Friend consider a bridging loan so that we can maintain the excellent services that we have always had?
§ Mr. BurnsI am very grateful to my hon. Friend. As she will know, as a result of the £1.6 billion secured by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth health authority has an increase in cash terms of £11.5 million, which is a real-terms increase of 1.64 per cent. I know that my hon. Friend has written to my hon. Friend the Minister for Health. I assure her that her letter will be examined carefully, although, obviously, I cannot anticipate the answer. However, she may be interested to know that, after the Budget, the director of finance at the St. Helier NHS trust said of the £1.6 billion extra:
This is at the top end of my expectations. This means we will not have to make any cuts at all.