Health chiefs miss funding targets

Oldham health organisations are not getting their fair share of funding, says the National Audit Office.

A report shows the Department of Health and NHS England are making slow progress towards allocating local commissioners - including Oldham Council and Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group - the correct funding from £79 billion allocated for 2014-15.

Oldham Council received £65 per person in public health funding, £9 less than the target. In Greater Manchester only Wigan Council had more to spend per person then its target.

Oldham CCG received £1,222 per person to spend on hospital, community and mental-health services - 0.3 per cent above the target.

The report said the tighter financial position of recent years has made it difficult to allocate money in a way that achieves both fairness and financial stability.

Margaret Hodge MP, chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, said: “The approach to funding the local bodies that commission healthcare doesn’t add up. Given the pressure, it is more important than ever that money is distributed fairly.”