§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what effects the resource allocation working party policies have had on the Wessex health region in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1984, c. 365]: The percentage growth in revenue spending both in economic cost terms and in growth in services in the Wessex region compared with all the regional health authorities over the last five years is shown in the table:
Percentage Growth in Revenue Spending Growth in economic cost—expenditure compared with general inflation (GDP* deflator) Growth in services—expenditure compared with NHS inflation Wessex All RHAs Wessex All RHAs 1979–80 3.9 3.3 0.6 0.2 1980–81 8.5 8.9 0.6 0.8 1981–82 1.3 0.8 2.9 2.4 1982–83 0.7 -0.2 1.1 0.2 1983–84 0.9 0.4 1.3 0.8 Cumulative growth 16.0 13.6 6.7 4.5 * Gross Domestic Product Notes:
- 1. 1979–80 to 1982–83: Based on actual expenditure from health authorities summarised accounts.
- 2. 1983–84: Actual expenditure not available. Based on revenue allocations adjusted for the July reductions in public spending.
This growth has enabled the region to sustain a large programme of new developments at, for example:
- Queen Alexandra hospital, Portsmouth
- The Royal South Hampshire hospital, Southampton
- Princess Anne maternity hospital, Southampton
- Southampton general hospital
- The Royal united hospital, Bath
- Moorgreen hospital, Southampton
- and 12 locally based units for the mentally handicapped
It has also been accompanied by increases in manpower in the community services (25 per cent.) and by increases in patients treated in hospitals:
Inpatient cases Per cent. Outpatient cases Per cent. Acute 10 31 Geriatrics 27 46 Mental Illness 9 23 Maternity 9 — The region has been able to narrow the gap between the highest and lowest funded districts by one third since 1981.