§ 38. Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance he has given to regional health authorities regarding the criteria to be taken into account in the distribution of funds to district health authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeIn making allocations to districts, regional health authorities are expected to move towards levels of resources which allow equal opportunity, throughout the region, of access to health care for people at equal risk. They should assess the relative resource position of individual districts using a formula in which the main criterion is population weighted to reflect health care need. The pace at which they move towards equalisation of resources is a matter for the judgment of each regional health authority, taking account of the growth in the total allocation for the region; the need for development in particular services; the time taken to rationalise services in the relatively better provided districts; and the time needed to recruit and train staff and to provide facilities to improve or increase services to patients in the relatively less well provided ones.