Plea to Minister on county’s health cash (From York Press)

Plea to Minister on county’s health cash

9:35am Wednesday 3rd October 2012 in News

COUNCILLORS in North Yorkshire have called on the Government to deal with low funding levels for the county’s health services as a “matter of urgency”.

North Yorkshire County Council has asked Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to take into account its rural and ageing population and its size when deciding on health funding, after NHS North Yorkshire and York revealed plans for £10 million of emergency cuts as it battles a £19 million deficit.

Coun Clare Wood, executive member for adult social care, said: “Funding for the NHS in North Yorkshire is one of the most serious issues we face and one I want to raise at the highest level of Government. We have been historically underfunded for a number of years, so we need this problem to be addressed urgently if the population of North Yorkshire is not to face a reduction in services.”

Coun Wood said she was worried about proposed “short-term” savings and she did not believe this would help the county to deal with long-term issues. She said if North Yorkshire had the same funding per person as neighbouring Cumbria, its budget would increase by £160 million.