§ 9. Mr. Jim Lesterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will reallocate National Health Service resources from the wealthier regions to the poorer ones.
§ Dr. OwenIt is the declared policy of this Government to ensure that resources for the National Health Service are allocated in a way that is more sensitive to local variations in need. For this reason, last May we set up a working party to examine existing arrangements 221 and recommend a method of allocating NHS finance more equitably. I am consulting interested parties on the working party's report on a method of allocating finance to regional health authorities in 1976–77, and a copy has been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. LesterI thank the Minister for that reply. I am sure that all hon. Members whose constituencies fall within the "Cinderella" Trent Region will also be grateful. Will the Minister give a further and practical example of his support by considering again the acknowledged very serious position in Nottingham, where the extension to the City Hospital "H" Block is not built, particularly the bums unit, where they have to use the same bath for treatment and cleanliness? It might have to close because of the risk of cross-infection. Will the Minister reconsider that and redirect funds to that project?
§ Dr. OwenI am well aware of the situation in Nottingham. I am sure that many hon. Members can point to areas of need in their constituencies. We must try to allocate scarce resources where the need is greatest. We have already allocated resources to the Trent Regional Health Authority, which has a long history of backlog and neglect. However, to allocate to Trent, to the North West, and to other regional health authorities that have been deprived in the past, would mean that other regional health authorities, such as the four metropolitan regional health authorities and Merseyside, would have to have a smaller allocation.