A Stafford Borough Councillor has today challenged the town's MP to explain his position on the future funding of NHS hospitals.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Barry Stamp said he was disappointed to see that Stafford's MP David Kidney had supported the Government in the recent vote to introduce foundation hospital trusts

Speaking at meeting of Liberal Democrat members in the town Cllr stamp said he concerned that the plan to introduce the new method of funding hospitals would set up a competition culture that would set one hospital again another.

" I believe that this plan to allow top performing hospitals more financial freedom will lead to a two-tier health service. For every community that benefits from this plan another will loose out. The Government's plan in divisive, as it is based on unfair political performance measures. It will only bring more conflict and bureaucracy to this national service. I believe it is wrong that the quality of service you receive from your local hospital will depend on where you live. The Government should be ensuring all hospitals are funded to the same level, and should not be making plans to do the exact opposite," said Cllr Stamp.

"I would like to publicly challenge David Kidney to explain why he supported the Government in the recent House of Commons vote on this issue, when 62 of his Labour colleagues rebelled and voted against the plan. The principles of a nation-wide, common high quality, hospital service is I believe fundamental to the NHS, but it now appears this is a view not shared by our MP and present government," added Cllr Stamp.