A senior Labour councillor has admitted to the Liberal Democrats that the behaviour of Patricia Hewitt in relation to the provision of vital health services in Haringey ‘was not acceptable’. George Meehan, leader of the Labour-run council, was responding to complaints from the Liberal Democrats that the minister failed to answer a letter sent to her by a key council committee.

The letter questioned the minister about cuts to Primary Care Trust funding in the borough – representing a total of £11million. Overview and Scrutiny Committee members were astonished to receive a standard response from a customer care centre that did not address the concerns raised in the letter.

The Liberal Democrats, on behalf of the committee, have continued to press for an adequate response from the minister and raised the issue at the meeting of Haringey councillors on Monday.

Cllr David Winskill, who raised the issue in the chamber, says:

“No wonder the NHS is in such a mess when the Health minister in charge can’t even respond to a letter. This issue is of vital concern to every single person living in Haringey, who deserve more than to be ignored by those in charge of our health service. Patricia Hewitt has shown grotesque disregard for this borough. The people of Haringey deserve more than this.

“This Labour Government can’t even be bothered to respond to concerns raised by a Labour-run council – no wonder George Meehan finds this behaviour unacceptable. Let’s hope his own intervention will result in a more serious response.”