LOCAL authorities have now had their turn to criticise West Herts Health Authority's plans for the future of local health services.

At Monday's meeting, representatives of five councils said they feared both options presented by the health authority would inevitably lead to a cut in the quality of service.

So far, it seems very few people have liked the no-win choices presented to them by the authority.

Behind both options, the authority says, is the need to reduce a predicted £12m annual deficit.

That is fair enough, no-one would argue with the need to balance the books.

But how will the needs of people who use the health service best be met in the future? That is the question that should be uppermost in our minds.

If cuts are to be made, it is vital the net losses are transformed into gains that will benefit the people of St Albans.

And what safeguard is there to reassure us that investment in a new hospital will not just increase the health authority's deficit and lead to yet more cuts?

It seems we are caught on a merry-go-round of cuts that threatens to go nowhere.

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