Short cuts HAs use voluntary sector despite its shaky funding

Health authorities are increasingly using the voluntary sector to provide services, but funding is often insecure, according to a King's Fund report. Research commissioned by Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster HA, London Boroughs Grants and the King's Fund from the Charities Aid Foundation found that spending on voluntary sector services varied from £39 per head to £5 per head across London. The highest amounts were spent in areas of greatest deprivation. But the report says the 'size and dependence of voluntary groups makes them vulnerable as business partners' and 'this problem is exacerbated by a lack of funding for development or infrastructure work'.