HEALTH chiefs from Lancashire have visited MPs in London to encourage the Government to reconsider how it plans to provide funding to local NHS organisations.

County councillors, including Nelson South’s Azhar Ali, have also written to Jeremy Hunt MP, secretary of state for health, to share their concerns about the ‘health formula’ being proposed by NHS England.

It is currently consulting on plans which could see funding for Lancashire's hospitals and other NHS organisations cut by more than £29m per year.

Coun Ali, chairman of the Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “This funding contributes towards running our hospitals and commissioning groups, which manage the health services people across Lancashire use every day.

“If NHS England brings in this formula we stand to lose £140m over five years. This is equivalent to the cost of an entire hospital.

“These changes would affect disadvantaged and rural communities and have the potential to lead to more older people suffering from isolation and loneliness.

“We don't want Lancashire to lose out so we’ve spoken to MPs from all parties to highlight the problem.”