Brent urges primary care trust to ditch cuts

Brent Council has called on the north London borough’s primary care trust to abandon a multi-million pound cuts plan, which could shunt massive costs to the local authority.

Council leader Paul Lorber told the PCT’s board meeting on Thursday that the two organisations should campaign together for more government cash to avoid the tightening of continuing care criteria and cuts to community and mental health services.

The PCT is attempting to stave off a deficit of £25m in 2006-7 and £28m in 2007-8 which the council estimates will lead to cost shunts of at least £4.5m in first period and £9m in the second.

Lorber blamed the government, saying that half the cuts were due to the PCT being forced to bail out other trusts.

However, he added: “We need the PCT to stand up for services – not mindlessly implement the cuts.”