§ 7. Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will pay a visit to Southend-on-Sea to inspect the hospital services.
§ Mr. DorrellI have no immediate plans to do so.
§ Mr. TaylorIs the Minister aware that, for many years, our excellent hospitals in Southend have had to cope with being seriously underfunded in comparison with other districts because they happen to be in an overfunded region? As a new system of funding based on capitation is coming in in April, can the Minister assure Southend that that fairer system will result in something being done about consistent underfunding?
§ Mr. DorrellI can confirm that, by national standards, Southend has been underfunded over a long period. It is one of the intentions of the reforms that will come in next April that we achieve a fairer distribution of funding around the country. That will not happen overnight, but it is our clear intention that it should happen over a reasonably short period.
§ Sir Bernard BraineIs my hon. Friend aware that it is not an inspection that is needed, nor even an admission that our district has been underfunded for many years past? We want some action.
§ Mr. DorrellMy right hon. Friend has an Act on the statute book which sets in place the machinery that will allow funds to flow in the way in which he desires. Action is coming.
§ Mr. CohenWhen we see it we shall believe it. Is the Minister aware that Southend, like in my area of Waltham Forest, is covered by the North East Thames regional health authority, that that authority has recently slashed its capital programme and that many important developments have been cut as a result? When will the Minister do something about increasing that capital programme for a change?
§ Mr. DorrellSince 1979 the NHS capital programme has increased by 57 per cent. in real terms. I wish that I could believe the hon. Gentleman when he says that he will believe it when he sees it. He has seen it for more than 11 years and apparently still does not believe it.