Redbridge Primary Care Trust has welcomed the huge NHS cash boost promised in last week's budget.

Chancellor Gordon Brown announced plans to increase national insurance contributions of employers and employees by 1p in the pound to fund improvements in the health service.

The impact of this cash injection is welcomed by Redbridge Primary Care Trust's chief executive Tom Easterling who believes it is "great news" for local people.

At the moment Mr Easterling is unsure what areas the money will be spent on, but is adamant that the extra money will be spent wisely and will make a "real difference" for patients in Redbridge.

The Government's budget forecast sees the rise in NI contributions resulting in a £40 billion rise in national NHS spending over five years which will be a 7.4 per cent increase locally in areas such as Redbridge.

Redbridge Community Health Council is keeping a watchful eye on developments and will make sure Redbridge get its fair share. Chief officer of the health council Jane Cowl hopes the new cash will reverse under-funding suffered by the local NHS for years.

The plans have received a mixed response from local political leaders. Redbridge Council leader (Lab) Cllr Muhammed Javed fully supports the new initiative and believes that the Labour Party is showing a real commitment to the health service.

He added: "The public deserve better from the service and spending more money is vital".

Lib Dem leader Richard Hoskins also supports the increase but said it was "an overdue step in the right direction".

The Government has promised the extra money will go on recruiting more than 15,000 extra GPs and doctors, 35,000 more nurses, and 30,000 other staff.

Leader of the Redbridge Conservatives Keith Axon said he had no faith in the new initiative and felt the real problems were being ignored.

He said: "There is too much bureaucracy and not enough money spent on nurses and doctors and the fact they are subject to these increases means they will get paid even less."

Redbridge Mayor Alan Weinberg watched and discussed the budget with GLA member for Redbridge Roger Evans, and local business people including Haslers chartered accountants in Woodford Green.

Mr Weinberg said: "I would support the increase if I could be assured that all the money would go on the NHS. In the budget announcements the chancellor did not agree that. I want to see the money go to the front line and nurses to get a 100 per cent pay increase."