NHS spending in Norfolk revealed with £579 spent on Playstation
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 Norfolk and Waveney, the CCG was shown to have spent £930 on pottery and craft classes, £579.98 on a Playstation four, £400 on craft supplies, £499 on weighing scales, £250 on wild bird food, and £877 on an Ipad.
The group did offer justifications for each of their purchases.
Pottery and craft classes - To give people a sense of achievement and provide social interaction opportunities.
PS4 - Enables the patient to be able to visit places they are unable to travel to, improve mental health and wellbeing.
Craft supplies - To support health and wellbeing during Covid, when normal outside activities weren't possible.
Weighing scales - Regular monitoring to facilitate safe and quantified weight loss to improve physical health.
Wild bird food - To benefit both physical and mental health, especially when many were house-bound during the pandemic.
Ipad - Patient required an iPad to ensure their 'future proofing' for transition into new settings, with new staff and intervenors. It would contain videos relevant to all health needs.
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."