14.01.19
NHS England reveals funding allocations for CCGs with focus on deprived areas
NHS England has submitted its funding allocations for CCGs in 2019-20 and aims to help improve some of the most deprived areas, with some CCGs seeing a cash increase of up to 15% next year.
The draft funding allocations, subject to approval, will see deprived areas getting a greater share of the funding following adjustments made to the allocations to “take account of health inequalities and unmet need.”
New formulas taking into account high levels of deprivation and of mental health and community care needs are being implemented, with NHS England applying ‘pace of change’ adjustments which affects how much each CGG will receive.
Those commissioning groups found to be the most below target are from additional growth in funding compared to ‘typical’ performing CCGs and those who have benefitted in previous years will also receive less cash growth.
NHS England aim to ensure no area is more than 5% below target, with “a more generous level of growth” in funding benefitting poor performing CCGs.
In the funding allocations, Bradford CCG will receive the largest boost in finances with a 15% increase seeing an extra £22m and Blackpool CCG will see a cash boost of £31m, an increase of 12%.
Sandwell and West Birmingham CCG will receive the largest monetary increase with a growth of £52.4m and Coventry and Rugby CCG will receive an additional £40.6m.
The CCG with the lowest cash growth for 2019-20 is West London CCG, a 3.7% growth, as it has already benefitted from the funding allocation formula and is already ahead of is target allocation.
As part of the NHS Long-Term Plan, NHS England stated that around £1bn per year will be “distributed according to the greatest need, with a redeveloped fairer funding formula channelling extra money to places with the highest rates of early death and unmet health needs.”
In the allocations, NHS England is continuing to move from an approach based solely on utilising hospital inpatient service to one based on individual records of performance covering community, outpatient, and inpatient mental health services.