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 Health Minister Susan Deacon"I am accountable to the Scottish Parliament"  real 28k Health correspondent Abeer Parkes"Winter and Millennium will bring new pressures"  real 28k |
Hospitals urge funding re-think
Scotland's hospitals claim they are struggling financially |
Scotland's hospitals are warning that patient services may have to be cut because they are millions of pounds over budget.
There are also fears that the winter months, which traditionally see a rise in hospital admissions, will place an even heavier burden on services.
Part of the way through the financial year, the Scottish Executive is being urged to reconsider its position on NHS funding.
The Scottish Association of Health Councils has called on ministers to think again about funding to ensure patients receive the care they deserve.
 NHS trusts have to be accountable for how they spend the resources allocated to them  |
| Health Minister Susan Deacon |
Millennium celebrations and bonus payments for staff, plus to the annual influx of patients with flu related illnesses, are expected to be costly.
And the burden is being felt more so because hospitals are being forced to reduce junior doctors hours and meet waiting list targets.
Scotland's NHS trusts have been given an additional £300m this year, but they say that is not enough.
The Scottish Executive says the country's key health providers have had a massive increase in their budgets and should not only be surviving but thriving.
'Sigificant additional resources'
Health Minister Susan Deacon said: "NHS trusts have to be accountable for how they spend the resources allocated to them.
"We are investing significant additional resources in our twin priorities of health and education.
"I think it's important that we are held to account for what we promised. We will make sure these resources are spent properly and that they are spent on front-line patient care."
Several trusts - including North Glasgow, Tayside and Grampian - are already in the red.
They insist they have been drawing up a list of options to reduce spending but cannot guarantee patient services will not be hit.
One casualty from Monday is the hydrotherapy pool at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, whose hours are being halved to save money.
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15 Jul 99 | Health |
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NHS funding faces overhaul |
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12 Nov 99 | Health |
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NHS nearly £1bn in the red |
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12 Nov 99 | Health |
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The NHS debt culture |
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