HEALTH watchdog Steven Holgate said a new funding formula proposed by the government ‘will only compound Lancashire’s health inequalities’.

He travelled to Westminster with colleagues last week to urge ministers to reconsider the planned formula.

As previously revealed in the Lancashire Telegraph, NHS England is consulting on plans which would see funding for Lancashire’s hospitals and other NHS organisations cut by more than £29 million per year.

The chairman of Lancashire County Council’s health scrutiny committee said: “The formula that is being proposed focuses on life expectancy alone, and only takes into account that people use health services more frequently as they get older.

“Although this is the case, we believe it must also recognise that people in disadvantaged areas need access to health services at a much younger age, leading to better health in the long-term.

“If the new formula is brought in, it will only compound Lancashire’s health inequalities, widening the gap between rich and poor.”