NHS spending in Bucks revealed with nearly £3,500 spent a week on property rental
A freedom of information request has revealed NHS spending across the country
Freedom of Information requests submitted by the Taxpayers' Alliance as part of its 'War on Waste' campaign has revealed thousands has been spent on luxuries in the NHS, including football tickets and even hot tubs.
The group sent requests to Clinical Commissioning Groups asking for details of what personal health budgets were spent on in the last year.
In Buckinghamshire, the CCG was shown to have spent £3,478.45 per week on property rental.
Meanwhile NHS Herts Valleys CCG spent £15 weekly on cinema trips.
The groups did offer justifications for their purchases:
Property rental - To allow for property renovation to take place to support needs of patient.
Cinema visits - To support mental wellbeing and an activity to leave the home, meet social and emotional needs.
A spokesperson for NHS Herts Valleys CCG said:
"Personal health budgets are an important part of giving people control of their care as well as helping them to stay well and out of hospital.
"This includes spending on mental health and wellbeing and that can include a range of different items."
Following their data haul, the Taxpayers' Alliance is calling on the Government to ensure value for money in health spending, especially with national insurance due to go up to help fund the industry.
James Roberts, political director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:
"Taxes on working people should not be going up to pay for health service hot tubs.
"Given the new health and social care levy, taxpayers will not accept their money being wasted.
"While everyone's care needs will be different, it beggars belief that health budgets could be forking out for jacuzzis, video games and football tickets.
"The upcoming spending review needs to ensure the NHS is offering value for money in every pound it is spending."