Jeremy Hunt MP today welcomed a report published by leading academics from Cambridge University which concluded that many PCTs' financial problems are linked to geographical factors for which Whitehall is failing to account. The study, led by Padmanabhan Badrinath of the university’s medical school, said that difficulties of providing rural healthcare and the tendency of affluent communities to demand more of their GPs are the key causes of PCT debt.The study contradicts the belief of Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt who has consistently blamed poor local management for the spiralling debts of PCTs, such as Guildford and Waverley.Surrey is currently facing a severe NHS funding crisis with many hospitals being threatened with closure. At least one Accident and Emergency department in Surrey must close in order to balance the books, according to the Strategic Health Authority. The most likely victim is A&E at the Royal Surrey, a proposal which Jeremy is completely opposed to.He said: “This Government continues to blame poor local management for all the funding issues which are erupting in Surrey. ""However, as this report proves, the problem’s roots go a lot deeper that that and stretches back to the funding allocated by Central Government. Patricia Hewitt needs to wake up to the fact that she must take full responsibility for this crisis and act accordingly.”For a copy of the report published by Cambridge University, visit http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1472-6963-6-64.pdf