Karin Smyth

I am going to just complete these points, so that I can try to address as many points as possible. In the constituency of the hon. Member for Torbay, the local ICB, NHS Devon, receives £2.5 billion of the £11.5 billion for the south-west. The allocation per capita for Devon is higher still, and above the south-west regional average. Likewise, NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly ICB received just over £1.2 billion of that £11.5 billion total. The allocation per capita for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is above the south-west regional average and national average. To respond to the hon. Member for St Ives (Andrew George), I understand from NHS England that the ICB has had the debt written off, so that might be something he wants to follow up. My hon. Friend the Member for Truro and Falmouth (Jayne Kirkham) and others talked about funding allocations—we could talk about this for a very long time. They are difficult things to get right, and are controversial, but the funding formulation does account for older people and for rural populations. The latest financial performance position publicly available is for quarter three of last year. It showed an overall deficit position of £51.7 million against the year-to-date plans, of which Dorset ICS had the largest variance of £27.7 million. Final end-of-year positions are still being finalised and will be made publicly available in due course. For ’25-26, NHS systems overall have received £2.2 billion of deficit support funding in their allocations. All systems in the south-west have now agreed a balanced plan for ’25-26. The position on deficit support for ’26-27 will follow the spending review settlement for individual organisations agreed as part of the planning guidance process. NHS England will continue to support all organisations to deliver financially sustainable healthcare through a range of improvement measures, some of which we have heard about today. Devon integrated care board, and three trusts within the ICB, are currently part of the recovery support programme, which provides intensive support to challenged organisations. Where organisations are struggling significantly, the Department of Health and Social Care provides cash support to support the continuity of patient services—obviously, that is critically important. So that colleagues are aware, I am personally meeting with finance colleagues from NHS England and the Department of Health every week to support that work. We are clear as a Government that we need to be certain that every pound of taxpayers’ money is used to best effect, and that best practice is followed in this region and across the entire NHS. The hon. Member for Torbay asked about coronary services, and that is a local decision. NHS Devon and Torbay Foundation Trust have proposed undertaking a test-and-learn process for out-of-hours primary percutaneous coronary intervention. That service will be provided in Torbay and Exeter, which would involve a temporary change to provide out-of-hours services at Exeter only. Members will be aware that the ICB was due to make a decision on the pilot at its board meeting in May. However, following significant local feedback, the ICB has decided to reflect on those issues raised, and I am sure the hon. Member for Torbay will be following up on that. The ICB will be providing an update at its board meeting in July. In conclusion, the Government are taking the necessary steps to fix the NHS, and the Chancellor’s spending review settlement puts the NHS further on the road to recovery. I assure Members that we will write back to them on any other individual points raised.