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NHS fears despite books balancing NHS fears despite books balancing
(about 8 hours later)
Ministers are to confirm the NHS has balanced its books - although many hospitals and other parts of the service are still struggling with debt.Ministers are to confirm the NHS has balanced its books - although many hospitals and other parts of the service are still struggling with debt.
A year ago the NHS finished with a deficit of more than £500m, but Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt staked her job on wiping out the debt in 2006-7.A year ago the NHS finished with a deficit of more than £500m, but Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt staked her job on wiping out the debt in 2006-7.
Early figures even suggest there will be a surplus.Early figures even suggest there will be a surplus.
The book balancing needed training and public health budget cuts. Extra cash due to the service was also held back.The book balancing needed training and public health budget cuts. Extra cash due to the service was also held back.
It takes weeks to cut, it takes years to rebuild trust. Morale is at an all-time low Jonathan FieldenBritish Medical Association It takes weeks to cut, it takes years to rebuild trust. Morale is at an all-time low Jonathan FieldenBritish Medical Association class="" href="/1/hi/health/6724199.stm">Feeling the pinch class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6499&edition=1&ttl=20070606081708">Send us your comments
In a speech on Wednesday, Jonathan Fielden, chairman of the British Medical Association's consultants' committee, will say the cuts have been "excessive".
"It takes weeks to cut, it takes years to rebuild trust. Morale is at an all-time low.
"The profession is angry because of this government's mishandling of the health service and has lost all confidence that the government can solve the problems it has created."
He will also warn ministers: "We will not stand by and let you decimate hospitals for purely financial reasons."
Three-quarter year forecasts for 2006-7 showed that the health service was on course to break even.Three-quarter year forecasts for 2006-7 showed that the health service was on course to break even.
But this masked the £1.3bn in deficits forecast to be run up by the third of hospitals and primary care trusts which pay for local services. It was predicted these hospitals and trusts would not balance the books by the end of the year. But this masked the £1.3bn in deficits forecast to be run up by the third of hospitals and primary care trusts which pay for local services, not predicted to break even by the year-end.
These figures were almost exactly the same as the figures for 2005-6.These figures were almost exactly the same as the figures for 2005-6.
The latest accounts will show that financial balance has only been achieved by taking money from elsewhere.The latest accounts will show that financial balance has only been achieved by taking money from elsewhere.
First of all, £1.8bn of the extra money due to the NHS in 2006-7 - about a quarter of the total increase - was held back.First of all, £1.8bn of the extra money due to the NHS in 2006-7 - about a quarter of the total increase - was held back.
And regional managers working for strategic health bosses have also made cuts to central budgets, such as training, to build up a £450m contingency fund.And regional managers working for strategic health bosses have also made cuts to central budgets, such as training, to build up a £450m contingency fund.
'Excessive' cuts'Excessive' cuts
That is on top of the thousands of job losses that have been forced on NHS trusts - 17,000 in the past 12 months, according to the NHS Information Centre.That is on top of the thousands of job losses that have been forced on NHS trusts - 17,000 in the past 12 months, according to the NHS Information Centre.
And on the day the figures are announced the Times newspaper is reporting that it has seen a government memo revealing that more than half of patients are still waiting longer than 18 weeks for treatment.
Ministers, due to publish full data on waits on Thursday, have pledged that by the end of next year all patients will be treated within this time limit.
Ahead of the release of the figures, Health Minister Andy Burnham has admitted "difficulties" still persist, but that balance has been achieved without harming patient care.Ahead of the release of the figures, Health Minister Andy Burnham has admitted "difficulties" still persist, but that balance has been achieved without harming patient care.
But doctors do not share his confidence. In a speech on Wednesday, Jonathan Fielden, chairman of the British Medical Association's consultants' committee, will say the cuts have been "excessive". But shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Cutting education and training and plundering public health budgets is not the way to manage the future of our NHS.
"It takes weeks to cut, it takes years to rebuild trust. Morale is at an all-time low.
"The profession is angry because of this government's mishandling of the health service and has lost all confidence that the government can solve the problems it has created."
He will also warn ministers: "We will not stand by and let you decimate hospitals for purely financial reasons."
Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said: "Cutting education and training and plundering public health budgets is not the way to manage the future of our NHS.
"No other business would be run on boom and bust and neither should the health service.""No other business would be run on boom and bust and neither should the health service."