Council must answer questions over social care staff vacancies - Gidley
Tuesday, 24, Nov 2009 12:00
Commenting on the news that Hampshire County Council has more than 300 fewer nurses than needed, Test Valley MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Minister and member of the House of Commons Health Select Committee, Sandra Gidley, said:
"These figures are deeply worrying, and the Council must explain why the most vulnerable in our society are seemingly shouldering the burden of their cuts.
“The figures show a startling difference between rhetoric and reality: Council leaders who use talk about a personalisation of services need to match their words with actions.
“Cllr Felicity Hindson claims that a vacancy rate of 11 per cent doesn’t highlight a significant staff shortage. I would beg to disagree. With more and more of us living longer, the Council is setting a dangerous precedent for the future and is literally gambling with people’s wellbeing.
“I will be writing to the County Council immediately to question their priorities. An examination of the Council’s publicity budget would be a good place to start.”