THE group which makes most county NHS funding decisions will get an extra 6.6 per cent for its budget next year, it was announced yesterday.

Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG) will get £665m for the next financial year compared with £623.6m this year. The group decides where most NHS spending in the county goes, but is not responsible for GPs and some specialist services.

The cash was announced after an extra £1.98bn was pledged for the NHS next year in Chancellor George Osborne’s autumn statement. Bosses at NHS England said they expect all OCCGs to use extra cash to increase funding for mental health services.

Conservative Oxford West and Abingdon MP Nicola Blackwood said: “Responsible economic decisions taken by the Government mean that we can boost spending on our vital frontline services and I am pleased Oxfordshire is seeing such a significant increase.”

Healthwatch Oxfordshire, the official watchdog, and Oxford East Labour MP Andrew Smith had yet to comment.

Our top stories

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.