Province has lowest health spend in UK

This is in spite of the recent Appleby Review that found people here have additional requirements for health services that are 10 per cent greater than those in England. The need for social services is 35 per cent greater.

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey outlined the expenditure gap pointing out health and social care was underfunded here to the tune of 640m this year. The Minister was asked through an Assembly Question to detail the average spend per head of population.

Mr McGimpsey replied: "The most up to date information available, from the HM Treasury Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses, shows that in 2009/10 Northern Ireland had the lowest spend per head (including capital and revenue) of all UK Administrations.

"In 2009/10, 1,881 was planned to be spent on Health per head of population. This is 2 per cent lower than the average spend on Health across the UK."

The equivalent spend in Scotland was 2,066 per head; in Wales 1,956 per head; and in England 1,896.

Mr McGimspey cited the PESA 2010 report advising: "Following the Appleby Review it has been demonstrated that the population in Northern Ireland have additional requirements for health services that are 10 per cent greater than England.

"It also showed the need for social services is 35 per cent greater here. When an analysis is undertaken of this additional need, it is found that the health and social care of the population here was underfunded by some 640m in 2010/11."