It's time for a fair deal for Kingston Hospital

12.00.00am GMT Tue 8th Mar 2005

"Reports that Kingston Hospital has a £5.4 million funding deficit is no surprise since the hospital has long been denied its fair share of funding" said Susan Kramer, Richmond Park Lib Dem Parliamentary Campaigner.

Government figures obtained by the Lib Dems show that Labour has increased its spending on the NHS by 45.1% since the last election, but Kingston Hospital's funding has risen by just 29.5%.

Had our hospital had the same increase as the rest of the country, then it would have £10 million a year more to spend on extra doctors, nurses and beds.

"Kingston Hospital has done badly under Labour but it was even worse under the Tories when funding rose only 20% over a comparable period.

"News that St George's in Tooting has an even worse deficit of £20 million means that local people have no assurance of a bed there either"

"Once again local people are losing out because of Labour's prejudices about so-called leafy suburbs"

"Of course health spending should go to the places that need it most, but local hospitals are facing huge demands, particularly since Labour closed the casualty department at Queen Mary's.

"Its time for a fair deal for Kingston Hospital."

£10 million could buy 250 extra hospital beds including cleaning and nursing; 312 extra nurses; 588 specialist hospital cleaners.