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NHS spending cuts ‘favour rich areas’

NHS spending cuts ‘favour rich areas’
2 August 2011



Labour has claimed that NHS spending cuts will see affluent parts of the country benefit at the expense of more deprived areas.

The party said that changes to funding for primary care trusts means that poor health rates will have less of an impact upon where the cash goes.

The claims were rubbished by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, who said there was no proof that Labour had spent more on tackling poor health in deprived areas.

Labour has claimed that NHS spending cuts will see affluent parts of the country benefit at the expense of more deprived areas.

The party said that changes to funding for primary care trusts means that poor health rates will have less of an impact upon where the cash goes.

The claims were rubbished by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, who said there was no proof that Labour had spent more on tackling poor health in deprived areas.

But Labour said that under the cuts, areas such as Surrey and Hampshire would benefit, leaving Manchester and the London borough of Tower Hamlets out in the cold.

Labour based the claims on an assessment of funding reforms by public health bodies in Manchester.

But the primary care budgets in Surrey and Tower Hamlets would see similar rises during 2011, according to Department of Health officials.

Copyright © Press Association 2011

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