Heywood and Middleton MP, Chris Clarkson, has welcomed the announcement that Pennine Acute NHS Trust - which operates Fairfield General Hospital in Bury, North Manchester General Hospital, the Royal Oldham Hospital and Rochdale Infirmary - have had £160,561,000 of debts written off as a major financial reset for NHS providers.
Last week, the Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, announced that more than £13.4billion would be provided to 100 NHS hospitals across the country freeing them from debt to support investment in vital services and longer-term infrastructure.
The MP praised these measures and stated that “as we deal with this unprecedented situation, no hospital should be distracted by any historic debt and these changes will provide much needed financial support during this period of intense pressure for our precious NHS, as well as lay the foundations for longer-term commitments to support our health service becoming financially sustainable.”
These measures form part of major reforms to the financial management of the NHS, which will give hospitals access to extra cash and capital investments as they respond to the outbreak of coronavirus and beyond.
Mr. Clarkson added that “during this crisis we all have our role to play in protecting our wonderful NHS and its dedicated staff and I urge all my constituents to follow government guidelines as we care for the more vulnerable in our community in these difficult times.”
