Hewitt defends NHS cash for Labour voting areas
Patricia Hewitt sparked new controversy over NHS funding last night after insisting that it was "absolutely right" that spending per head on health care was at least 35 per cent higher in many Labour areas than wealthier Tory ones. The Health Secretary told MPs that people in more prosperous areas had the "good fortune" to be in better health and as a result needed less allocated for their care.
Asked by a Tory member of the health select committee, Mike Penning, if it was fair that people in her Labour constituency of Leicester West received £1,300 per head in NHS spending, compared with £960 in his Hemel Hempstead seat, she replied: "I am satisfied that funding allocations are fair. I believe that reflects the very real differences in health areas, in the prevalence of disease between our two constituencies.
She added: "It seems to me absolutely right and fair that those with greater health needs get better funding than patients with better health and less health needs, who get less funding."
Her comments follow claims of political interference by Labour in the running of the NHS, and revelations that Miss Hewitt asked officials to draw up "heat maps" to ensure hospital closures did not hit the Labour vote in its marginal seats.
Mr Penning said Miss Hewitt had given "the most complacent, arrogant and patronising evidence I have ever heard." He added: "She gets nearly £400 per head more than I do for the NHS because my constituents aren't as sick. It is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard."
Todays story was taken from:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/22/nhealth122.xml
Credit where credit is due. Health Direct applauds the Health Secretary for publically admitting that she and the Labour govt are rigging the health cuts away from Labour voting areas.
On the other hand the brazen policy that will condem many to early deaths and discomfort is disgraceful. Please see also our stories below:
NHS cuts twice as likely in Tory and Lib Dem voting areas
Tue 24 Oct 06- Following Health Direct's lead on Sept 25, 2006 NHS closures rigged away from Labour voting constituencies and the Times last week: Oct 16 Hospitals in Tory seats are 'targeted for closure' the Sunday Telegraph has now come to the same conclusion: that hospitals in Conservative and Liberal Democrat constituencies are more than twice as likely to suffer from NHS cuts as hospitals in Labour voting seats.
Asked by a Tory member of the health select committee, Mike Penning, if it was fair that people in her Labour constituency of Leicester West received £1,300 per head in NHS spending, compared with £960 in his Hemel Hempstead seat, she replied: "I am satisfied that funding allocations are fair. I believe that reflects the very real differences in health areas, in the prevalence of disease between our two constituencies.
She added: "It seems to me absolutely right and fair that those with greater health needs get better funding than patients with better health and less health needs, who get less funding."
Her comments follow claims of political interference by Labour in the running of the NHS, and revelations that Miss Hewitt asked officials to draw up "heat maps" to ensure hospital closures did not hit the Labour vote in its marginal seats.
Mr Penning said Miss Hewitt had given "the most complacent, arrogant and patronising evidence I have ever heard." He added: "She gets nearly £400 per head more than I do for the NHS because my constituents aren't as sick. It is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard."
Todays story was taken from:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/22/nhealth122.xml
Credit where credit is due. Health Direct applauds the Health Secretary for publically admitting that she and the Labour govt are rigging the health cuts away from Labour voting areas.
On the other hand the brazen policy that will condem many to early deaths and discomfort is disgraceful. Please see also our stories below:
NHS cuts twice as likely in Tory and Lib Dem voting areas
Tue 24 Oct 06- Following Health Direct's lead on Sept 25, 2006 NHS closures rigged away from Labour voting constituencies and the Times last week: Oct 16 Hospitals in Tory seats are 'targeted for closure' the Sunday Telegraph has now come to the same conclusion: that hospitals in Conservative and Liberal Democrat constituencies are more than twice as likely to suffer from NHS cuts as hospitals in Labour voting seats.
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