HEALTH authorities have given a qualified welcome to the Government's increase in their funding announced last week.
South and West Devon Health Authority responded with guarded gratitude to the Department of Health's allocation of £33.5 million for next year.
A spokesman for the authority, which covers the Tavistock area, described the 8.03 per cent increase next year, taking the budget to £451 million, and a guaranteed six per cent the following two years, as 'encouraging.'
North and East Devon Health Authority, which handles Okehampton and district, will get an extra £26.4 million, making a total of £353.8 million, or a rise of 8.07 per cent.
Its reaction was more positive - a statement said it was 'delighted', though it added that it faced 'a very challenging agenda' and 'substantial investment was essential'.
The Cornish authority's £371.2 million, incorporating an additional £29.4 million, is up 8.58 per cent.
Finance director Alan Harris noted that, after allowing for 2.5 per cent inflation, this represented an increase of 5.9 per cent. The announcement of a minimum of six per cent for the following two years was 'particularly pleasing', the authority said, but cautioned that 'delivering within the funding available will be a significant challenge'.
The two Devon authorities are getting below the national average increase of 8.5 per cent, a point which they were quick to pick up.
The Government conceded that the increases in real terms were smaller than the figures indicate, because part of the money has already been committed.
The new cash is to be spent mainly on treating cancer and heart disease, relieving deprivation and a drive to cut the maximum waiting times for operations to 15 months by the spring of 2002.