NHS: Clinical Commissioning Groups’ Funding of Treatment

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon Excerpts

Tuesday 12th November 2013 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Wall of New Barnet (Lab)]

My Lords, as chair of one of the many trusts that are in financial difficulty—

[Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Lab)]

I suggest that we hear from my noble friend Lord Harris.

[Lord Harris of Haringey]

My Lords, 55 years ago, I had my tonsils removed on the National Health Service. Had that not taken place and I now needed that procedure as an adult, according to figures from the Royal College of Surgeons I would be extremely unlikely to have them removed in the area in which I live—Haringey—but 22 times more likely to have the same procedure carried out in the Isle of Wight. Can the Minister explain why this Government’s arrangements facilitate that extraordinary postcode lottery, which means that there is no equity of treatment across the National Health Service?