AN MP has called on the Government to tackle decades of underfunding of health care in east Durham.

Easington MP John Cummings said: "In socio-economic terms, Easington is identified as one of the most deprived areas outside of Lon-don.

"It is sixth from the bottom in the multiple index of deprivation. It must be a political priority to bring Easington up to its proper level of funding and make up the current £10.5m shortfall in the target allocation."

Mr Cummings said the treatment of coronary heart disease, diabetes, cancer, adolescent and adult mental health services, GP and community nurse services could be substantially improved with additional resources.

He said: "I am calling upon the Government to increase the baseline allocation to Easington and to use the index of multiple deprivation as a basis for the allocation of resources for health in future settlements."

Mr Cummings said it was a matter of concern that patients from north Easington were waiting longer than residents in the city of Sunderland for routine operations and appointments, because the primary care trust did not have the resources.

He said he had had a "very useful meeting" with representatives of the Easington Primary Care Trust, including the chairman, Penelope Young, vice-chairman Robin Todd and chief executive Dr Roger Bolas.

They agreed a strategy to lobby the Government to secure funding for the much-needed improvements in the health of the population of Easington.

Mr Cummings said he would seek a meeting with health minister John Hutton to press the case for a fair share for his constituency.

He said: "In the grand order of things we are talking about a modest commitment of about £100 per resident of the district of Easington.

"Residents have looked to government to address inequalities and injustice and to repay a debt owed to mining communities that are working hard to overcome disadvantage and deprivation."

The MP had an adjournment debate on inequalities in health funding in Easington in the last session of Parliament in which he raised the issues directly with the health minister.

In his reply, Mr Hutton gave a reassurance that the Government was seeking to put measures in place to review the funding mechanism, which is due to come on stream next year.