The Conservatives have challenged the local parties to guarantee increase health service spending by £200m a year by 2020.
Ben Manton, the Conservatives South Belfast candidate said
“The Prime Minister has promised that if returned to power the Conservatives would increase health spending by £8 billion per year by 2020. Under the Barnett formula this would lead to a £200m increase in the Block Grant. What we don’t know is if the Executive will ring fence this money for health and social care.”
“Given their track record for poor decision making and squandering resources we are challenging each of the five local parties to promise not to siphon this money off for other things.
“Will they ring fence this money or not? Yes or No? The electorate have a right to know.
“Only by having such funding and a long term commitment can Transforming Your Care ever be delivered.
Mr Cameron said he would protect the "amazing" health service by funding in full the five-year reform plan put forward by NHS chief executive Simon Stevens after he called for help in filling a £30 billion finance gap by 2020. Mr Stevens said around £22 billion could be met through internal savings but demanded an extra £8 billion from the government. This increase in public expenditure would automatically lead to an increase in the Block Grant of approximately £200m.