§ 29. Mr. Severasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to improve health care in inner city areas.
§ Dr. VaughanI said in my reply to the hon. Member on 3 March—[Vol. 1000, c. 125–26]—that we shared his6W concern about health care in inner city areas. Responsibility for improving services locally lies with NHS authorities, which allocate their resources according to their priorities. At national level the special problems of these areas are recognised. Government funds are at present available under the urban programme to seven partnership and 25 programme authorities to help implement their inner city plans—including health care and personal social services. In addition, 10 per cent. of joint finance moneys are allocated to regional health authorities on the basis of inner city needs and capital allocations also take this into account. The Department has also been involved in a number of studies of specific aspects of health care, mostly in relation to primary care and with particular relevance to inner cities. The report by a study group of the London Health Planning Consortium on primary care in inner London, which is to be published this month, will help in deciding what more needs to be done.