Sixteen hospital trusts in England providing acute services are under strong pressure, which could lead to loss of services or even closure of some of their 28 hospitals according to Liberal Democrat research published today.

The major new research study shows that the Government’s NHS reforms are seriously destabilising district general hospitals in England.

Pressure on trusts is strongest in London and the South East where nearly one in four hospital trusts is facing serious pressures from financial shortfalls and competition from other parts of the NHS or private providers.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Steve Webb MP said:

"Labour has unleashed powerful forces in the NHS through its market-fixated reforms and constantly changing financial arrangements. They have created great instability with many hospital trusts facing huge financial pressure.

"Despite Ministerial denials, it will be patients who suffer from cuts in frontline services.

"It is a scandal the Government feigns ignorance about the direction of travel for the NHS. If Ministers are aware that district general hospitals may close, then they should come clean so there can be a genuine debate instead of leaving patients to the mercy of market forces.

"It is unacceptable that changes made in the NHS are too often made by unelected bodies answerable only to the Health Secretary. Consultation is frequently just an exercise in rubber-stamping a decision that has already been made. It is time the Government came clean about the financial crisis in many of our district general hospitals and listens to what communities want for their local NHS."