Out-of-hospital plan 'a recipe for disaster', MPs warn

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Cutting back on hospital services in England - before community services are geared up to provide care - is a "recipe for disaster", MPs say.

The Health Select Committee said the NHS faced "one of its greatest challenges" dealing with patients with long-term conditions, such as diabetes.

They account for 70% of health spending but only 30% of patients.

The NHS has tried to ensure more care is done in the community, but the MPs questioned the wisdom of this strategy.

The cross-party group said these patients would still need specialist hospital care.

The MPs acknowledged doing more in the community was perhaps desirable for the patient, but added it would not necessarily save the NHS money - as has been widely assumed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-28134335