PCT revenue allocations for 2012/13 show the total investment in local NHS services for 2012/13 is £91.6bn – an increase of around £2.5bn since last year.
But writing on Twitter, King’s Fund chief economist John Appleby said this equates to a real terms increase for PCTs of just 0.1%.
The DH said all PCTs will receive a uniform uplift in their 2012/13 recurrent allocations to provide the NHS with financial stability in a year of transition.
Previously, recurrent revenue allocations to PCTs were based on a weighted capitation formula.
NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson said the allocations place the NHS in a ‘strong position’ to deliver the government’s priorities, as set out in the 2012/13 Operating Framework.
He said the DH expects to publish details of shadow budget allocations for clinical commissioning group (CCGs) in the New Year. Actual allocations for clinical commissioning groups for 2013/14 will be made in late 2012, he added.