Disease spending differences highlighted
Monday, 08 Sep 2008 12:08
More equal than others: disease funding postcode lottery uncovered
A postcode lottery continues to exist for spending on different diseases across the country, the King's Fund thinktank has warned.
Its initial studies of primary care trust (PCT) expenditure reveal major differences even after the different needs of local communities are taken into account.
Islington PCT spent £332 on mental health compared to East Riding of Yorkshire PCT's £114 in the three financial years to 2006/07.
A 2.5-fold gap in cancer spending and 2.2-fold gap on circulatory diseases between other PCTs was also established.
The report's authors remain tentative about their findings, insisting there is much work to do and that "firm conclusions" are difficult to draw from the data.
But King's Fund chief executive Niall Dickinson insists: "It does not mean that any one PCT's spending is necessarily wrong but it does suggest that as well as unexplained variations in clinical practice, there are unexplained spending variations – some of these are almost certainly not justified.
"We need better information about what PCTs spend their money on and what gains in health they achieve as a result. Fortunately, over the next few years we should achieve that."
The Department of Health said PCTs were free to make decisions about spending priorities based on the "character and needs of their local population".
A spokesperson added: "It would be impractical as well as undesirable for every single spending decision by local health managers to be dictated by Whitehall."