HEALTH campaigners will stage a protest this weekend after figures revealed life expectancy for women in Bolton had fallen slightly and Bolton NHS Foundation Trust has to save £19 million next year.

Members of Save Bolton NHS they were ‘shocked and outraged’ after the information came to light at the most recent meeting of Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) board.

The statistics were referred to by David Herne, Bolton Council’s director of public health, during the proceedings.

The group is now urging members of the public to join their demonstration in Victoria Square on Saturday to demand the Government provides the ‘desperately needed funds’ to reverse the trend.

Karen Reissmann, of the group, says the figures are a ‘sad indictment of health and social care in the 21st century for the fifth richest country in the world'.

The group claims more cuts to both beds and staff are planned in Bolton, despite the growing crisis in health and social care.

She added: “Social care has been massacred by this government , there are not enough places for people to go and there’s no more money going into social care because the council is being starved of money.

“The problem will get worse, not better. This is not time to have a plan for 58 fewer beds in Bolton and Salford, and that’s in the locality plan.”

She added that plans for the voluntary sector to play an increased role were a ‘return to the Victorian era of charity’ that would make people feel guilty and ashamed.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust had to save £20 million last year and is expected to save another £19 million this year.

Christine Howarth, who will be joining the protest, said it: “It is no wonder we see a growing number of terrible examples of lack of care. An elderly woman was discharged from Bolton Hospital on Xmas Eve at 10pm at night, in her pyjamas and left outside her door with no key to get in.

“Others are turned away as hospital beds remain full, with ambulances waiting outside with no staff to hand over to. This has to stop and will only do so, when the NHS and Social home care is properly funded.”

Su Long, Chief Officer of Bolton CCG said: “Bolton’s plan for health and social care aims to meet the challenge of rising demand for services while budgets are reducing. We are working to join up and improve the services that support people to stay well at home, as well as ensuring high quality hospital care is there when you need it.”

Director of Public Health at Bolton Council, David Herne, said: “The most recent figures were released by the ONS in January and show a slight reduction in life expectancy for women in Bolton, from 81.6 to 81.4 years for the period 2014 to 2016. Prior to this, female life expectancy for women had remained static for around three years and is just under the national average of 83 years. In Bolton, the main causes of earlier deaths are likely to be circulatory disease, respiratory disease, cancers, digestive diseases and dementia.”