GP Cuts Meeting

CONTROVERSIAL budget cuts are to be discussed at a meeting between doctors and representatives from a care trust.

GP practices across Northumber land face having their budgets cut by up to 8% next year and 12% the following year. The cuts, made by the Northum berland Care Trust, have been greeted with anger by G Ps, some of whom say rural practices will have to close.

Now a Tynedale District Council committee is to hold a special meeting where health chiefs and GPs will discuss the implication of the cuts.

Coun Lorna Garrett, who will be chairing the meeting, said: “The rea son it is being held is that we have had a number of requests from various councillors to look at what the impact of the changes will be on Tynedale.

“The big concern is that there will be a lot of coverage of the issue and we need to sort out the fact from the fiction.”

(c) 2007 Evening Chronicle – Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.