Health bosses must not take money from Wandsworth to make up for overspending in neighbouring boroughs, the council has warned.

Instead it claims the health authority should improve local management so everybody gets a fair share of the pot.

The council is angry after a finance report discussed by Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth health authority last week revealed a total overspend of more than £500,000.

This has been put down to overspending on prescribing drugs in Merton and Sutton. In contrast Battersea, Putney and Roehampton and Balham, Tooting and Wandsworth Primary Care Groups are all expected to break even.

But council leader Councillor Edward Lister is worried because the report appears to suggest various projects planned by these groups will be put on hold to enable the authority to balance its books overall.

He says Wandsworth has always lost out in terms of funding because, as an inner city borough, it faces more demanding problems than Sutton or Merton.

Eight of the 15 wards in Battersea, Balham, Tooting and Wandsworth have mortality rates at or above the national average compared to 15 out of 52 wards in the rest of the health authority area, he stressed.

"This would be yet another kick in the teeth for Wandsworth residents who have been short changed by the way health cash is shared out.

"Instead of looking to Wandsworth to bail them out the health authority should be imposing tough financial controls to remove the deficit."

A MSW spokesman said: "Sutton Primary Care Group, Merton and Furzedown Primary Care Group and Nelson and Merton Primary Care Trust are currently projecting overspends this year, but the authority is working with them to help ensure there is a balance by the end of the financial year."

He added that there will be some spending of balances to help meet St George's Hospital targets on waiting lists and waiting times.

November 20, 2001 10:30