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Andrew StunellWorking hard for Bredbury, Compstall, Great Moor, Hawk Green, Hazel Grove, Heaviley, High Lane, Marple, Marple Bridge, Mellor, Offerton, Romiley, Rose Hill, Strines & Woodley since 1997 |
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NORTH WEST HOSPITALS PAY BACK £6.6 MILLION IN INTEREST TO GOVERNMENT OVER RIP-OFF LOANS
May 8, 2009 11:03 AM
Hospitals across the North West have been forced to repay over £6 million to Whitehall in interest charges at a rate ten times higher than the Bank of England base rate, research from Hazel Grove MP Andrew Stunell has revealed.
The figures, revealed in a parliamentary answer to the Liberal Democrats, show that Stockport NHS Trust has so far had to pay back almost £3 million in interest, with North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust paying back almost £1.2 million. Six other trusts had to repay a total of £2.5m.
Nationally, the high-rate interest charges have cost hospitals over £81 million since they began, which critics say should have been spent on health care.
Commenting, Andrew Stunell said:
"This money should have been spent on treatment for patients in our hospitals, not used to oil the wheels in Whitehall. How can the government justify ripping off hospitals in this way?
"Trusts throughout the North West, and my local Trust in Stockport in particular, are being charged ten times the going rate and losing huge amounts through this unfair practice.
"With interest rates way down it is time the Government treated NHS hospitals fairly, and stopped charging them at what amount to loan shark rates.
"Instead of this money disappearing into the black hole of central government, it should be invested locally in frontline services."
Ends
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