I WAS shocked to see that the projected debts of the North Yorkshire and York PCT have almost doubled to £45 million. It is inevitable that this will translate into even more cuts for York Hospital.

The Health Secretary could have taken the decision to write off the PCT's old debts. Instead, the PCT now faces the prospect of cutting much-needed services and making staff redundant.

This Government consistently contradicts itself on future staffing needs, saying only a few weeks ago that the health service employs too many nurses. It is now saying that there will be a shortfall of 14,000 nurses within four years.

We are faced with the bizarre prospect of a national nursing shortage, while hospital trusts are making nurses redundant because of a financial crisis.

Coun Madeleine Kirk, Parliamentary Spokesperson, York Outer Liberal Democrats, Melcombe Avenue, Strensall, York.