A WARNING has been given that elderly and vulnerable people in the area could suffer as hospitals cut social care costs. Fears that it will leave councils with insufficient funds to make up the shortfall are being voiced by local MP Jeremy Hunt. He is also worried that Surrey County Council may have to cut social care because of the impact of NHS deficits and subsequent hospital closures. "Across the country, local hospitals are having to sack staff, cancel operations - and some in our area are even on the verge of closure - because their budgets are in the red. The closure of Milford and other beds at Cranleigh is a prime example of this." Mr Hunt believes these NHS cuts could hit Surrey County Council, since health and social services are so closely linked. As of June 2006, Guildford and Waverley Primary Care Trust is £2,037,000 in deficit. "Despite the hard work of public sector workers, financial mismanagement by ministers in Whitehall is leading to major cuts in frontline services," said Mr Hunt. The MP for south-west Surrey expressed his concern following the publication of a report from the NHS Confederation and the Local Government Association. In the nationwide survey, seven of out 10 local authorities are withdrawing services because of cuts in spending from NHS trusts. Many NHS organisations have stopped funding joint projects and referred patients to social services. In turn, councils are being forced to reduce provision for low-level care needs, increase waiting times and cut funding from other budgets such as leisure or transport. Mr Hunt is worried that the national picture could soon be echoed in Surrey ,given the planned closure of Milford Hospital and the threat to The Royal Surrey. He said: "We have all been aware of this government's squeeze on council budgets, but to expect council tax payers to bail out the NHS is unfair. "It is a clear example of botched reorganisations, inconsistent policies and now cutbacks and closures which we all in SW Surrey will fight all the way."