Lord Darzi has published an interim report which expects to raise the NHS bill by more than £50 billion by 2030.
The NHS surgeon and former health minister released the independent review, in conjuncture with the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), which examined the state and quality of health and social care services and made recommendations.
‘With hospital targets being routinely missed, social care on the brink of collapse, and patients unable to reliably access general practice, it is clear that the NHS cannot cope without significantly greater funding,’ said Chaand Nagpaul, council chair of the British Medical Association.
‘This report also shows that social care funding has also fallen significantly short of what is needed. Some of the most vulnerable people are being failed because the system simply doesn’t have the resources or staff to meet their needs.’
The interim report is a precursor to the final report, to be published in the lead up to the 70th anniversary of the NHS, which will put forward a long term funding plan.
‘Simply demanding more for less or promising more money without a plan for better care isn’t good enough. The re-emergence of rationing of care, waiting times that are on the rise, and deteriorating financial performance means that change is becoming urgent as well as important,’ wrote Lord Darzi in The Guardian.
‘There is no reason why the people of this country should expect anything but the best health service in the world. We have the depth of clinical talent to achieve it and an extraordinary repository of scientific expertise which should help us push the boundaries of what is technologically and scientifically possible.’
Lord Darzi has described the NHS as a ‘patient that’s in need of help’ and this is why this reform is so necessary.
This winter saw NHS services struggle under pressure – ambulances experienced severe handover delays, patients were kept waiting in corridors, and hundreds of surgeries were postponed.
‘In the face of these challenges we urgently need politicians to set out a future plan of sustained and increased levels of funding for the NHS that helps doctors and other healthcare staff to provide high quality care that patients need,’ continued Mr Nagpaul.
‘The government’s approach of cash top-ups and short-term fixes will no longer do.’