HEALTH spending in Gwent is set to receive a significant boost after AMs approved changes to the NHS funding formula.

As much as £10 million extra every year could now be targeted on the Gwent valleys in particular as Health Minister Jane Hutt looks to make the sickest areas the greatest priority. However, exact figures are still being considered.

Torfaen AM Lynne Neagle, who has spent much of her time at the Assembly campaigning on this issue, said it was step forward - but not as big as she would have liked.

She said: "This new formula will mean we will start to direct resources to the communities with the greatest health needs.

"I would ask Jane Hutt for a guarantee that the three-year timetable will be met. My constituents have a right to expect the Assembly to move quickly."

The debate came about following the Townsend report on health spending. Professor Peter Townsend and his research team found that the areas with the greatest sickness were not receiving the cash they needed.

The changes will be introduced gradually over three years to ensure no area loses money, but budgets will increase at different rates.

"No area will receive less than its current resources," stressed Ms Hutt.

Ms Hutt - and husband Huw Lewis, AM for Merthyr - argued that only by making valleys areas a priority could the high heart disease and death rates be tackled.

Blaenau Gwent AM Peter Law said this Townsend report "would make a real difference". Monmouth AM David Davies sparked a row with Labour and Lib Dem AMs by saying that poverty was not the real issue.

He said money would be better spend on education programmes telling people that "booze and fags are more expensive than fresh fruit and vegetables".

Ms Hutt hit back accusing him of "decrying the way people live", and said that the Townsend report concluded real change could only come if everyone worked together.

The Conservatives argued unsuccessfully that any funding change should be delayed until NHS restructuring was completed.