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27 October 2006
BURNLEY, PENDLE AND ROSSENDALE PCT SEES 20% FUNDING INCREASE BUT KITTY FIGHTS ON FOR BURNLEY GENERAL
In response to Kitty’s question in the chamber yesterday, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt announced that as a result of the introduction of the fairer funding formula, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT would benefit from an increase in funding of £60m or about 20% over 2006/07 and 2007/08.
Kitty Said:
“I want to see improvements in mortality rates across the board so I welcome the £60m increase in health funding that can be put straight into the job of saving lives”
In a follow up question, Kitty pushed the health Secretary to make the guarantee that the allocation of funding will always be based on where it is needed most.
In response, Patricia Hewitt Stated:
“I can certainly give my hon. Friend an assurance that we will continue to use a fair funding formula that takes into account of the fact that different populations in different parts of the country have different health needs, whether that results from a higher elderly population or from a concentration of communities with a much higher risk of disease…as is the case in her constituency where the average life expectancy is about two and a half years less than the English average.”
On the subject of Burnley General, The Health Secretary made specific reference to her previous meeting with Kitty and members of the constituency.
Patricia Hewitt Stated:
“There has been a review of emergency and acute services in East Lancashire which I believe is under debate by the oversight and scrutiny committee…I believe that such decisions, about which my hon. Friend the member for Burnley has been to see with some of her constituents about, should really be made locally. But the overview and scrutiny committee has an important role to play in that and it would be inappropriate for me to comment further at this stage.”
In response to the Health Secretary’s answers Kitty said:
“Once again, we have put Burnley General on the Health Secretary’s radar and I want assure everyone in Burnley that I will continue to take every opportunity in Parliament like this to raise awareness. Unfortunately, we are playing a waiting game while the overview and scrutiny committee deliberates but I am not finished fighting yet!”
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