A GROUP of patients have set up a petition for improved NHS funding in Mid-Essex.

The Mid-Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (MECCG), which runs medical services in areas including Chelmsford and Braintree, received £20million below its target funding last year and £14million below for 2015/16.

This puts Mid-Essex in the bottom 20 per cent of all CCGs in terms of distance between target funding and actual funding.

The CCG will receive £1,060 per person in 2015/16 – about £81 less than the average Essex CCG.

Now, Ian Gillard, 63, of Greenwood Surgeries Patient Participation group in South Woodham Ferrers has started a petition, which he hopes will attract 10,000 signatures in order to get a response from the Government over the allocation of NHS funds across the whole of Mid-Essex.

He said: “If you have a population that are very old, needy and not very healthy, then they will probably get more money than somewhere where people are looking after themselves.

“It’s a nonsense, it doesn’t take into account what’s needed to run hospitals and surgeries.

“The whole system seems to be struggling. “I thought we might get more notice by bringing it to the attention of the government.”

The MECCG, chaired by Dr Caroline Dollery, is one of the 11 most financially challenged health care providers in England, receiving £1,060 per person in 2015/16, which works out at about £81 less than neighbouring CCGs.

It launched a public consultation on Monday detailing proposals for further money-saving cuts to services.

In a bid to save £100,000 a year, it proposes to cut prescriptions for gluten-free food, claiming the bread is cheaper at supermarkets than for the NHS to buy.

It additionally plans not to routinely fund NHS hearing aids for people with mild hearing loss, as hearing aids are available on the high street, saving £335,000.

Vasectomies and female sterilisation face cuts, which would save the CCG £256,000 a year, as do referrals from GPs to physiotherapists.

If this service is abolished it will save the CCG £1million a year.

The public consultation ends on December 28, with the CCG making a decision on the findings on January 28 and informing stakeholders of its decision in February.

NHS England said it would not comment on funding issues.

But a spokesperson for Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (MECCG) said: “Target funding for CCGs – the estimate of their need to spend – is determined by a complex national formula.

"In 2014/15, MECCG received £20m (just over 5%) below target funding, and in 2015/16 we are receiving £14m (just under 3.5%) below. This puts Mid Essex in the bottom 20% of all CCGs in terms of distance from target.

“We have been very public about the deficit we built up in previous years – and the difficult decisions including service restrictions we must make to deliver financial stability.

"Our board papers and annual report, all on our website, offer further details about this.

“MECCG is receiving £1,060 per person in 2015/16 – about £81 less than the average Essex clinical commissioning group, partly reflecting the national formula assumption that health needs in mid Essex are lower than those of neighbouring CCGs.

“MECCG does not fund GP practices, as this is a responsibility of NHS England.

"Putting patients at the heart of our decision-making is important to MECCG, and we are grateful to our patient groups and the wider community for their ongoing support in making sure we get the best health services possible."

Sign the petition at peti tion.parliament.uk/peti tions/110663 and find out more at fundingmenhs.simplesite.com

MID-ESSEX CCG BY NUMBERS 2013- when the CCG system was introduced.

389,000- the number of residents in mid-Essex.

48- GP practices in across Maldon, Braintree and Chelmsford, which are part of the CCG.

£15.7million- the amount the CCG needs to save in 2015/16 to fulfil its financial objectives.

£420.2million- the healthcare expenditure and running costs for 2014/15.

£1,060- funding per person for 2015/16, £81 less than neighbouring CCGs.

Figures from Mid Essex CCG Annual Report & Accounts 2014-2015