MP welcomes NHS Swale CCG Budget Increase

20th January 2014
MP welcomes NHS Swale CCG Budget Increase

NHS England has allocated NHS Swale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) a 2.63 per cent increase in its budget for the 2014/15 financial year, which works out at an additional £3.13 million.

This is half a per cent higher than the core increase that all CCGs across the country are receiving. It is also the second highest percentage increase of all CCGs in Kent and Medway.

The news was welcomed by local MP Gordon Henderson and by Cllr Ken Pugh who is Swale Borough Council Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Health and chairs the Swale Health and Wellbeing Board.

Mr Henderson said: “I am delighted that NHS England has recognised the difficult challenges faced by our local clinical commissioning group and has awarded it an above average increase in its budget next year and the year after.

“However, I am a little disappointed that NHS England has not recognised fully the level of health deprivation in Sittingbourne and Sheppey.

“We have a number of areas where specific health problems are prevalent and this has led to an element of health inequality, particularly between communities with a higher proportion of elderly people and those where the population is, on average, younger.

“I will continue to lobby for even more money for NHS Swale CCG so that that inequality can be tackled.

“So yes, we would have liked to see an even bigger increase, however, this is a step in the right direction.”

Cllr Pugh said: "Obviously, the above average increase in allocation is welcomed, as it goes some way towards bridging the current funding gap.

“However, I am rather disappointed that NHS England does not appear to have taken into account in its calculations the level of health-deprivation and inequality in parts of Sittingbourne and Sheppey.
"Swale Borough Council will continue to work hard with our partners to persuade NHS England to change the way it calculates future funding."