Cash strapped Hereford County Hospital has health secretary Andrew Lansley's support (From Hereford Times)

Cash strapped Hereford County Hospital has health secretary Andrew Lansley's support

1:00pm Thursday 21st June 2012 in News By Bill Tanner

Herefordshire will keep its County Hospital.

At a meeting in Whitehall this morning county MP’s Jesse Norman and Bill Wiggin heard that Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley was committed to “continuity of service” at the hospital.

But that commitment comes with warnings over the way the hospital handles its money, with “budget sustainability” being a priority.

The Hereford Times recently revealed fears for the hospital’s future as Wye Valley Health Trust (WVT) reported a £15 million deficit – down to £9.5 million only on the assumption that £5.5 million in savings could be found.

The Trust’s cash plight left it with only a month’s work of “working” money, but this week – as reported by the Hereford Times - the West Midlands PCT Cluster confirmed that it would be continuing cash support while talks went on over tackling the hospital’s budget pressures.