NHS Tayside settlement "cause for concern" - McInnes

9.52.00am GMT Wed 13th Feb 2008

North East Liberal Democrat MSP Alison McInnes today described NHS Tayside's funding allocation as "a cause for concern".

The Scottish Government has published the Health Board funding allocations for the year showing a real terms increase of only 0.45 per cent, with NHS Tayside receiving £17.3M.

Commenting, McInnes said, "This financial settlement doesn't match the government's

rhetoric about prioritising health and is a real cause for concern.

"The government's increase in spending is far less than that allocated by the previous administration, which the Health Boards found essential to deliver services.

"We know that the cost of drugs and equipment soars above inflation so a real terms increase in health spending of only 0.5 per cent will put Health Boards under real pressure.

"This is an extremely disappointing settlement for NHS Tayside."

In scrutinising the Budget, the Health and Sport Committee concluded that:

• The annual increases in cash terms in the health budget will be 4.3%, 3.9% and 4.2% over the next three years.

• These are small increases compared to the increases of 8.4%, 6.0% and 8.7% in the previous three years.