COUNCIL'S HEALTH SCRUTINY COMMITTEE AWAITS OUTCOME OF NHS FUNDING REPORTIn front of a public gallery packed with around 50 people calling for an independent review of Cornwall's health services, the Council's Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee today agreed to examine the findings of an imminent Market Forces report into NHS funding. Today's meeting heard details of the cash crisis at Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust and Plymouth Hospitals Trust, and their plans for financial recovery. RCHT detailed its programme to generate £8.7 million worth of savings, and Plymouth described an underlying deficit of £6 million and a savings programme of £25 million. One issue is the blame levelled at a government formula which is said to leave westcountry hospitals out of pocket because it makes wrong assumptions about local wages. The so-called Market Forces Factor (MFF) assumes that it costs less to pay staff in rural areas, so funding from the Department of Health is downsized accordingly. But this formula's critics argue that most NHS staff are paid according to a nationally-agreed wage scale. Across all sectors Cornwall's wage levels are about 25% below the national average, but with health staff paid on national pay scales it is claimed that the county's hospitals do not have lower wage bills and are therefore no cheaper to run. Now Cornwall is one of twelve areas of the country where the formula is under scrutiny, and initial findings of a report are due within weeks. Today's meeting toyed with echoing calls for an independent inquiry into the county's NHS funding. But Members resolved to await the imminent findings of the Market Forces Report before deciding whether to highlight the issue with the Secretary of State. New Chairman Mike Nicholls warned that the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee had no powers to trigger such an inquiry, but many Members felt that local NHS funding issues had dragged on over years and it was time to take action. The matter will come before the next meeting on 11 July, by which time it is expected the Market Forces Report can inform the debate. |
Cornwall News
Workshops offer redundancy advice ‘NO’ TO NUCLEAR WASTE IN CORNWALL - MPs Proposals to bring nuclear waste to Cornwall have been described as ‘absurd and irresponsible’ by Cornish MPs. Route Partnership Plan for Penzance unnecessary Their plan having been rejected by the public in the final exhibition in Septmber with 90% against the Route Partnership have decided to try again in mid January after a mailout and poster campaign.The Chamber of Commerce has been at the forefront of this campaign. Route Partnership for IoS Link continues to mislead the public Having failed to win support for the Penzance development of the Route Partnership at the September 30th final exhibition there is to be another exhibition in mid January after a campaign by the Chamber of Commerce and a mass leaflet drop to every home in Penzance promoting an unnecessary £40+million plan to trash the sea front. Speech facility on police website Devon and Cornwall police install a new speech facility on its website to enable more people to access information. Approval for wind turbine plans A Cornish council approves plans for two 81ft (25m) wind turbines at St Erth, despite local opposition. Concerns as temperatures drop As temperatures plunge to -12C in parts of Devon and Cornwall, elderly people are urged to ask for help. Firm imports Bethlehem altar wine A Cornish-based company is to import wine from Bethlehem after Israel lifted movement restrictions. |