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Row over Tory Welsh NHS figures Row over Tory Welsh NHS figures
(40 minutes later)
A row has broken out after the Tories claimed spending per head on the NHS in Wales was set to be £157 less per person than in England by 2010-11. A row has flared after Conservatives claimed spending per head on the NHS in Wales was set to be £157 less per person than in England by 2010-11.
They also said real annual spending growth, after inflation, for the Welsh NHS would hit a low of 0.3% in 2009-10. Tories also said real annual spending growth, after inflation, for the Welsh NHS would hit a low of 0.3% in 2009-10.
But the Welsh Assembly Government said it "did not recognise figures provided for NHS expenditure for Wales".But the Welsh Assembly Government said it "did not recognise figures provided for NHS expenditure for Wales".
It said the method of analysis that had been used by the Tories was always likely to produce "misleading results".It said the method of analysis that had been used by the Tories was always likely to produce "misleading results".
This method, the assembly government spokesman said, involved comparing past expenditure with future budget plans and per head expenditure from different countries.This method, the assembly government spokesman said, involved comparing past expenditure with future budget plans and per head expenditure from different countries.
The Conservatives claimed they had obtained figures from the Welsh assembly library that the UK Government had recently refused to release.The Conservatives claimed they had obtained figures from the Welsh assembly library that the UK Government had recently refused to release.
They claimed the figures showed the Welsh NHS was not the priority for the Labour-Plaid Cymru coalition government.They claimed the figures showed the Welsh NHS was not the priority for the Labour-Plaid Cymru coalition government.
They followed up their claim regarding 2010-11 spending on the NHS in Wales by saying that in 2003-04, spending per person in Wales had been £100 more. They followed up their claim over 2010-11 spending on the NHS in Wales by saying that in 2003-04, spending per person in Wales had been £100 more.
These figures simply confirm what everyone in Wales has long suspected; that the NHS in Wales is falling back under the Labour/Plaid assembly government. David Jones MP These figures simply confirm what everyone in Wales has long suspected; that the NHS in Wales is falling back under the Labour/Plaid assembly government David Jones MP, Conservative
Their figures claimed that planned expenditure per head in Wales would be £1,964 in 2010-11 compared to £2,121 in England.Their figures claimed that planned expenditure per head in Wales would be £1,964 in 2010-11 compared to £2,121 in England.
In the figures they have released, spending for 2003-04 had been £1,387 in Wales and £1,287 in England.In the figures they have released, spending for 2003-04 had been £1,387 in Wales and £1,287 in England.
They said that estimated spending in 2007-2008, will be £1,760 per person in Wales, and £1,797 in England.They said that estimated spending in 2007-2008, will be £1,760 per person in Wales, and £1,797 in England.
Real annual spending growth for the Welsh NHS would be 0.3% in 2009-10, they said.Real annual spending growth for the Welsh NHS would be 0.3% in 2009-10, they said.
But the Tories claim the NHS in England would get annual average real growth of 4% in the same period.But the Tories claim the NHS in England would get annual average real growth of 4% in the same period.
Welsh Conservative health spokesman David Jones said: "These figures simply confirm what everyone in Wales has long suspected; that the NHS in Wales is falling back under the Labour/Plaid assembly government.Welsh Conservative health spokesman David Jones said: "These figures simply confirm what everyone in Wales has long suspected; that the NHS in Wales is falling back under the Labour/Plaid assembly government.
"Welsh patients now have to wait significantly longer than their English counterparts for many treatments, despite paying taxes and National Insurance contributions at precisely the same rate.""Welsh patients now have to wait significantly longer than their English counterparts for many treatments, despite paying taxes and National Insurance contributions at precisely the same rate."
A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman said it "does not recognise figures provided for NHS expenditure for Wales."A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman said it "does not recognise figures provided for NHS expenditure for Wales."
He said: "The real hard financial facts are that the health budget has more than doubled since 1999, and the Assembly Government's draft budget includes an extra £1.2bn invested in the health services over the next three years." He said: "The real hard financial facts are that the health budget has more than doubled since 1999, and the assembly government's draft budget includes an extra £1.2bn invested in the health services over the next three years."
This would build on achievements so far, such as reduced waiting times, increased professionals in the NHS and investment in new buildings and equipment, he added.This would build on achievements so far, such as reduced waiting times, increased professionals in the NHS and investment in new buildings and equipment, he added.