23.05.12
Age before poverty
How NHS funding should be most fairly allocated has been raised as a significant concern, following Lansley’s proposal for greater focus on age when funds are distributed.
If implemented, this would severely affect some of the poorer parts of the country with younger residents, research suggests. While the elderly generally present a larger demand on the health service, patients living in deprivation also tend to have poorer health outcomes.
The Department of Health asserts that funding will continue to be allocated by taking both factors into account, but it does raise the question of which should be given precedence.
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