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Critical illness cover to balance regional disparities

Date: Thu, 08 Dec 2005

People in Scotland and Wales should take out critical illness cover to make up for the fact that government expenditure on healthcare is increasing at a lower rate than it is in England.

In spite of the fact that Scotland and Wales face considerable difficulties on the issues of life expectancy and chronic illness respectively. Both have lowered the degree of public spending on health since devolution, according to a report published the Institute of Public Policy Research.

It found that health spending in England has increased by 65 per cent over the past six years, but by only 57 per cent in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and 55 per cent in Wales.

Katie Schmuecker, co-editor of the report, told the Guardian: "Despite
assumptions that Scotland and Wales have introduced high spending policies in health …England has seen the greatest growth in spending in these areas.

"If this exacerbates differences in standards of public services it would pose a big challenge for decision-makers across the UK as the public want to see common standards in key public services."

On notable digression in policy since devolution is the emphasis on public health and promoting healthier communities, rather than tackling illness, currently being pursued in Wales.

The reason for this diversification in policy is the introduction of block grant funding, which allows devolved administrations to distribute spending largely as they see fit.



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