District Health Authorities (Hansard, 9 February 1982)

§ 12. Mr. Nelson
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to correct the under-funding of district health authorities whose financial allocation by regional health authorities is substantially below that which they would receive if it were based on the formula which his Department uses for distributing funds to regional authorities.

§ The Minister for Health (Dr. Gerard Vaughan)
Regional health authorities are responsible for allocating funds to their districts and I am assured that they take account of local priorities and needs.

§ Mr. Nelson
Is my hon. Friend aware that, given the formula that the Department uses for allocating money to the South-West Thames regional health authority, Chichester health authority is under-funded by 20 per cent? Is he further aware that, at the same time, there is a desperate and pressing need for improved day-care and psychogeriatric facilities? Is my hon. Friend satisfied that some rural areas get their fair share? Is there not a great disparity between the criteria for the funding of district health authorities and those for the Department's funding of regional authorities?

§ Dr. Vaughan
That is an important point. The total budget for the South-West Thames region is£544 million, 851 which is an increase of 0.46 per cent. compared with the previous year. There are problems in the allocation between the different districts. I understand that the region is looking at the matter to see whether it can find a better way of allocating resources, particularly for districts such as Chichester.

§ Mr. Ashley
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the people of Stoke-on-Trent have to wait many months—and in some cases up to a year—for hospital appointments to find out what is wrong with them, let alone receive treatment? As that is due to the mis-allocation of regional funds, what will the Minister do about such a scandalous situation?

§ Dr. Vaughan
That is a rather extraordinary question. In the two and a half years in which the Government have been in office we have maintained our pledge to increase funds to the NHS. Compared with 1978,£6,000 million more is being spent on the NHS. During that time, waiting lists have fallen by no fewer than 120,000, although they increased every year under a Labour Government.