News from Surrey Labour

Confirmed – ConDem government is bad for your health

Labour’s claims that Tory Government is bad for your health have already been verified in the early days of the Con/Lib Government.

The news that Surrey Heath has the highest level of road accidents for children in Surrey comes with the announcement that Runnymede and Chertsey MP Philip Hammond is cutting the Government grant for speed cameras.

“There is now every chance that more children will be injured on our roads,” says Labour County Councillor Victor Agarwal.

As well as this Health Minister Andrew Lansley has just announced that NHS Direct will be cut. This service deals with 1400 inquiries every day. It is estimated that the saving to the NHS from NHS amounts to £162m every year due to people not having to use accident and emergency services or consult their doctor.

As well as this Lansley is withdrawing support services for people seeking to quit smoking in Surrey. The service that operates through pharmacies was responsible for helping 4.106 people stop smoking last year. Because of the proven link between smoking and a whole range of diseases these cuts again represent an increased cost to the NHS. Eileen Streets of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation says: “It is vital will stem the tide of new smokers who are becoming addicted every year, particularly young people and children.”

Judging by the bewildered response to the thrusting of responsibility for delivery of a whole complex range of health services from Drs. Surgeries, Labour believe that we in Surrey are likely to see a decline in the overall standard of health care offered by our NHS. People need to be reminded that the Con/Lib Government had no mandate for changes to the NHS on this scale.

Other news from Surrey Labour

• Surrey Heath Tories forced into climb down on community meals - 12 January 2012
• Concern grows about pressure on schools to become Academies by "ideological" Gove - 8 January 2012
• NHS cuts in Surrey show Cameron's promises are empty - 8 January 2012