Call to lift NHS debt of £75m

A POLITICIAN has accused the Prime Minister of “washing his hands” of health services in Kirklees.

Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Dewsbury Kevin Hollinrake tried to start a petition on the Downing Street website demanding debt is lifted from the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

The body, which runs Dewsbury and District Hospital, has piled up £75m in debt since it was formed in 2002.

But Mr Hollinrake was prevented from setting up a petition calling for the debt to be lifted.

Administrators told him the issue was “outside the remit or powers of the Prime Minister and Government”.

He said: “If Gordon Brown has no powers to deal with this problem, then who has?

“The Government cannot wash its hands of the dire financial situation of our local health services.

“This debt is a real concern to every resident, patient or member of hospital staff and we deserve a workable plan to have this debt removed.”

Mr Hollinrake added: “Our current MP Shahid Malik promised £30m of debt-relief payment during the 2005 election campaign. I demand confirmation that this payment has been made.”