§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the funding for NICE-recommended drugs, treatments and technologies has been allocated to audiology services in each NHS trust. [59561]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 24 May 2002]Directions have been issued obliging health authorities and primary care trusts to provide appropriate funding for treatments recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. A weighted capitation formula is used to determine each health authority and primary care trust's fair share of available resources, to enable them to commission similar levels of services for populations in equal need. The funding was not allocated by speciality.
The National Health Service will receive an annual average increase of 7.5 per cent. above inflation over the five years 2003–04 to 2007–08. This is now the largest ever sustained increase in NHS funding.