Lynne Featherstone MP joins calls for £1.5 billion extra NHS funding

Posted on 20th Nov 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone,who is already campaigning for fairer health funding for Haringey, has joined her colleagues in calling on the Government to urgently commit up to £1.5bn extra for the NHS.

This was backed by Liberal Democrat Health Minister Norman Lamb, who has led the call on the Government to free up extra cash for the NHS in the upcoming Autumn Statement.

The Liberal Democrats want some of the extra funding to focus on improving mental health care particularly for children and young people, a key priority for the party.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“People in Haringey know how vital NHS services are to local residents. This is why I’ve been campaigning for fairer health funding for our hospitals, GPs and walk-in centres.And this is why I’m calling on the Government to commit up to £1.5bn extra to protect our NHS.

“We need proper funding for our NHS for the future, and to provide better care, both for physical and mental health. And this needs to start straight away.

“Securing extra money for the NHS must be a high priority for the whole Government in next month’s Autumn Statement. And the Lib Dems want at least an extra billion pounds put in to the NHS every year in the next Parliament too.”

£7.6 million funding win for Haringey Health Services!

Posted on 27th Feb 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

Here’s my latest Muswell Flyer column – also available here.

Over a year ago I wrote a column about a new local campaign for fairer health funding in Haringey. We all rely on our vital local GPs, walk-in centres and hospitals – and I wanted to make sure they were getting a fair deal.

It had shockingly come to light that our local health services were severely underfunded in comparison to neighbouring boroughs such as Islington and Camden.

This was having a knock on impact on Haringey residents. The underfunding meant longer waiting times and less preventative care. One local resident went to get a free blood pressure and cholesterol test, offered by the NHS in an Islington supermarket. She was turned away because she had a Haringey postcode.

Another resident, a community nurse, told me that nurses in Islington had better training opportunities than those in Haringey.

When I met with Haringey GPs to discuss the problems caused by the underfunding – I heard horror stories about the longer waiting times Haringey residents have to face.

Something had to change. The core of the problem was an outdated funding formula, which discriminated against Haringey because we are an ‘outer London’ borough.

So – with the support of thousands of local residents, the Haringey Liberal Democrats and I lobbied the Department of Health and NHS England for a new funding formula – one that gives boroughs like Haringey a fairer deal on funding.

And in late December, we got some good news – NHS England have finally changed the funding formula, and Haringey health services will now receive a £7.6 million increase in funding.

This is an above inflation increase in funding, and a higher percentage increase than Islington and Camden. There is still a way to go until we get truly fair funding – but this is a great first step! The Haringey Lib Dems and I will keep campaigning to get more money for our vital services.

Now we have some extra funding (and hopefully there will be more to come!) I want to make sure it is spent well, on the health issues that matter most.

That’s why I’ve launched a survey, so residents can let me know what their priorities for improvements are. Whether you want to see longer opening hours, shorter waiting times, better services or something else, just let me know.

Residents can take part in the survey by going to www.tinyurl.com/HaringeyHealth

I look forward to seeing what your priorities are, and passing them on to our local NHS representatives.

Lynne Featherstone MP welcomes Haringey health funding boost

Posted on 6th Jan 2014 by Lynne Featherstone

This year, Haringey will receive a £7.6 million funding increase for local health services such as hospitals and walk-in centres.

The above inflation increase for Haringey was announced by NHS England in December, after the funding formula used to allocate money was reviewed. The new formula ‘will more accurately reflect population changes and include a specific deprivation measure.’

The announcement follows a campaign for fairer health funding by Lynne Featherstone MP, the Haringey Liberal Democrats and local residents.

During the campaign, the Liberal Democrat MP contacted both the Department of Health and NHS England, demanding a fairer deal for Haringey health services – which have been historically underfunded.

Alongside welcoming the increase, the MP for Hornsey and Wood Green has vowed to continue the campaign to secure further funding for local services.

Lynne Featherstone MP commented:

“Haringey health services have been underfunded for decades, unfairly receiving less money per person than neighbouring boroughs.

“I am so pleased that the Government has changed the funding formula, giving Haringey health services a much needed funding boost. Thank you to all the local residents who got involved in the campaign for more funding, and helped add pressure for change.

“We don’t yet have truly fair funding, though, and I will continue to push for even more money for our local services.”

Inequalities in Haringey’s health funding exposed

Posted on 10th Sep 2012 by Lynne Featherstone

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, today launched a campaign to address the historic health funding inequality in Haringey. As a borough, Haringey receives less funding for health services than ‘inner’ London boroughs such as Camden and Islington.

The Liberal Democrat MP met last Friday with the Interim Director of NHS Haringey, CCG Chairs and local GPs to discuss the funding issue. The participants confirmed that the funding inequality was having a severe impact. Haringey patients, for instance, will sometimes not have access to the same services as Islington patients, and experience much longer waiting times.

In March, Lynne Featherstone wrote to the Secretary of State for Health regarding health funding in Haringey. The response confirmed that spending on public health had been lower in Haringey than other boroughs. A further letter from the Minister for Public Health confirmed that the new funding formula was being considered, and the final calculations would be published later this year.

Councillor David Winskill, Liberal Democrat Adult Services spokesman, said:

“Haringey residents face significant health inequalities. It is completely inappropriate for health funding and access to services to be based on a postcode lottery – especially when the funding formula doesn’t recognise Haringey’s real need. A new funding formula which recognises and addresses the current inequalities is urgently needed.

“After 40 years in charge of Haringey Council, the Labour administration has shown no signs of addressing this issue. I am glad that Lynne Featherstone is now taking this up on behalf of Haringey residents.”

Lynne Featherstone MP said:

“I was shocked to hear about the effects of the funding inequality on Haringey patients. It is simply not right that Haringey residents should wait longer for, or not receive the same treatments as residents of Camden or Islington.

“I have written to the new Secretary of State for Health, asking him to meet urgently with a deputation before the new funding formula is decided. I will also be contacting constituents and asking if they want to sign up to support the campaign.

“Local people may know about my campaign for fairer funding for Haringey’s schools. You can expect a similar fight and effort to get fairer health funding for the borough.”