Lib Dem Leader Slams Government Health Snub

11.08.00pm GMT Fri 19th Nov 2004

Today Government Health Secretary, John Reid announced that 88 public health pilot schemes are to be unveiled right across the country - with the exception of Leeds. The main aim of the pilot schemes are to tackle the issues of smoking, obesity, drinking and mental and sexual health in the country's most deprived areas.

Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Mark Harris said "This is a disgrace. To launch a nation-wide scheme to tackle the issue of poor health in deprived areas and overlook Leeds is dumbfounding but sadly all too familiar. Many of our inner-city wards are ranked amongst the most deprived in the country, but this is a fact that seems lost on the Government. I will be writing to each of Leeds' MPs asking them to take up the issue, because once again we have been let down by Central Government. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust already faces having to make cuts of up to £25m, and now we are not even regarded as worthy of this additional funding, which is being made available to a quarter of the country."

South Leeds PCT Board Member Councillor Steve Smith, (Lib Dem, Rothwell) added, " The total exclusion of Leeds by the Government is extremely disappointing. Given that current NHS funding is supposedly equitable this will have a disproportionate effect for the health of the people of Leeds. With the major issues of teenage pregnancy and smoking a blight on Health Service in South Leeds in particular, the extra support provided by the pilot scheme will be sorely missed."

Councillor Alan Taylor (Lib Dem, Gipton and Harehills) commented, "This is a kick in the teeth for the deprived areas of Leeds, particularly the people of Gipton and Harehills who have been struggling for a Health Centre for years. This is a ward that has a population of thousands but has no local doctor, today's announcement can only be seen as a set back for the health care of Leeds that will affect old and young alike."