09 July 2004
The NHS Confederation called for a ring-fenced fund to tackle health inequalities this week as the Healthcare Commission warned the health service must do more to help those in greatest need.
In its first overview of the NHS in England and Wales, the commission said services had improved. The state of healthcare report said patients were waiting less time for treatment and cancer mortality rates were falling.
But it also found wide variations, with patients in the poorest parts of the countries often receiving the worst care – the death rate from cancer is 60% higher in Liverpool than in east Dorset, for example.
The Department of Health's resource allocation formula was part of the problem, it said. The current formula does take greater account of inequalities than its predecessors, and gives each primary care trust a target funding allocation.
However, to ensure that PCTs receiving more than their target are not destabilised by a swift withdrawal of funds, the department will not move them to their target allocation until 2010.
Commission chair Sir Ian Kennedy said: 'Eventually, more money will go to the communities that most need it. However, 2010 is far away and the commission would like to see more money going to those who need it more urgently.'
NHS Confederation chief executive Gill Morgan said the funding issue was more complex than had been outlined in the report. 'We think there is a case for creating a separate investment fund for health improvement.
'Initiatives to improve long-term health compete for resources with day-to-day service provision. A separate fund might help avoid this long-term work from being squeezed by more immediate demands.'
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