Health watchdog warns over 'insufficient cash'

Sep 24 2008 by Alison Dayani, Birmingham Mail

BIRMINGHAM patients with life-threatening conditions are losing out on vital treatment because of “insufficient” cash being pumped into heart, cancer and mental illnesses, a health watchdog warned.

Spending per person on the three critical conditions in the city is just half the amount spent in other parts of the UK according to health body, The King’s Fund. The findings prompted Coun Zaker Choudhry, vice chairman of Birmingham’s Health Scrutiny Committee, to demand an inquiry.

“Health services are a postcode lottery which should be immediately rectified if Birmingham people are to receive the healthcare enjoyed by people in other towns and cities,” said Coun Choudhry (Lib Dem, Bordesley Green).

Findings show that for mental health, Birmingham East and North PCT spends £135 per person, Heart of Birmingham, £198 and South Birmingham £207, which are all dwarfed by the £332 per head that Islington PCT spends.

For heart conditions and circulatory problems, Birmingham East and North PCT forks out £90, Heart of Birmingham spends £107 and South Birmingham £112 – compared to £167 in Middlesborough.

For cancers, Heart of Birmingham’s £67 per person is followed by South Birmingham’s £83 and Birmingham East and North with £96, whereas the highest spending trust in the UK is Knowsley, Merseyside, where £118 is spent per head.

PCT officials said a cancer network meant all Birmingham patients were eligible for the same treatment and drugs.

A Birmingham East and North PCT spokeswoman said: “With any report like this, it is important to be careful with its interpretation due to tremendous differences between different PCTs and the areas they serve.”