RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has warned the Government that it must provide extra cash to help the NHS in East Lancashire through the winter.

The Tory MP and local health chiefs have become increasingly concerned that the Government does not intend to provide further funds.

In the past two years, Health Secretary Frank Dobson has given special "winter pressures" cash to deal with the increased workload caused by cold weather.

But now Department of Health sources have said there will be no extra cash this year. They said the payments in the last two years were exceptional.

But Mr Evans said: "The Government has got it wrong and must think again. With the problems caused by the millennium bug, the millennium holiday and the need to pay staff to cover it, there is greater need than ever before for extra money.

"If there is a major flu epidemic in East Lancashire, we could see a real health crisis."

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