NHS cuts of £306m 'will leave patients without vital help'

Fears plan will push costs onto council and taxpayers

- Phil Corrigan

COUNCIL bosses say swingeing NHS cuts will cost Stoke-on-Trent taxpayers and vulnerable residents millions of pounds.

NHS organisations in Staffordshire are planning to make £306 million of savings this year to meet nationally-set targets.

But senior managers and elected members at Stoke-on-Trent City Council have hit out at the proposals, saying Potteries residents will lose vital support.

And they also believe that some of the cuts will simply 'shunt' costs onto the council, self-funders and even other parts of the NHS.

Bosses at Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) insist they are committed to maintaining service quality, and believe that some changes will lead to better outcomes for patients.

Members of the city council's adults' and children's scrutiny committees questioned NHS officials on the proposals during a special joint session.

Peter Tomlin, director of adult social care, explained why the city council, along with Staffordshire County Council, had voted against the proposals at a recent ICB board meeting - the operational plan was nevertheless approved by a majority of board members.