Basildon's health resources are to be boosted in a bid to prevent it being the most underfunded area in the country - but it will still be below target.
A three-year allocations process announced by the Department of Health showed Basildon Primary Care Trust was 9.51 per cent below target in 2003/04 - which equates to about £9m.
But by the third year of the allocation process, in 2005/06, the funding will have increased by 37 per cent from £82m to £120m annually. The national average growth over the same period is 31 per cent.
Even with that cash injection, however, the PCT will still be six per cent below target.
Joe Dillon, the PCT's associate director of corporate development, said the increased funding was the start of the district's efforts to improve its services.
He said: "It means the NHS in Basildon will get more resources than the national average over the next few years and we can put this into our strategic plans to improve NHS services locally."
Last year, the Healthcare Commission compiled a report that found Basildon to be the most underfunded area in terms of healthcare resources.
The report detailed the ten most overfunded trusts, which had on average one more GP per 10,000 residents than the ten most underfunded trusts.
Mr Dillon said Basildon bosses would have to wait and see how the extra funding would serve them.
Published Tuesday August 10, 2004
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article