NURSES’ leader Dr Peter Carter expressed serious concerns about the future of the National Health Service when he visited St Ann’s Hospital in Poole.

The Royal College of Nursing chief executive and general secretary, who began his career as a psychiatric nurse and went on to be chief executive of a large London health trust, was meeting staff and looking around the eating disorders service at Kimmeridge Court.

He told the Echo: “The NHS is being asked to save £15-20 billion over four years, which is absolutely astronomical. That on its own would be very difficult without affecting the standard of services, but on top of that, you’ve got the biggest reorganisation in its 62-year history.

“We don’t think it’s been properly thought through. During the last decade or more, there have been some real improvements in the NHS. What we don’t want to see is to slip back to the bad old days.”

Dr Carter pointed out that in 1997, there were 80,000 people waiting two years or more for operations.

“In May last year, the average waiting time was nine weeks.

“Our concern at the moment is that short-sighted false economy will end up costing the public money and result in patient care going backwards,” he said.

“The worry is that when the chips are down, mental health, learning disabilities and old age services will be the first to be affected.”

Dr Carter added: “I am encouraged by this trust, which, despite these pressures, is providing progressive care.

“This unit has a huge reputation and is something local people should feel very proud of. Units like this are, relatively speaking, low volume and high cost, but are actually cost-effective.”