Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced that the NHS budget will increase by an extra £3.3 billion in each of the next two years.
In this year’s autumn statement, Mr Hunt also announced an increase in funding for the social care sector of up to £2.8 billion next year and £4.7 billion the following year. He also said the NHS would publish an independently-verified plan for the number of doctors, nurses and other professionals needed in five, 10 and 15 years’ time.
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‘When the government – and the country – face such a daunting set of challenges, we welcome the chancellor’s decision to prioritise the NHS with funding to address rising cost pressures and help staff deliver the best possible care for patients. This shows the government has been serious about its commitment to prioritise the NHS,’ said NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard.
‘The NHS is already one of the most efficient health services in the world and we are committed to delivering further efficiencies, with over £5 billion already freed up for reinvestment in patient care this year.’
The statement has been criticised by organisations such as the RCN, who say that the spending increase will not solve the problems confronting the health service.
‘The Chancellor’s announcement today will have done nothing to reassure nursing that it will get the investment it so desperately needs. He said at the weekend that all Government departments will have to make efficiency savings, which would include health and care,’ said RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Pat Cullen.
‘In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis and worsening financial hardship for underpaid nursing staff, any cuts to government spending, whether directly to health and care or not, will negatively impact those staff and their patients. The nursing workforce crisis is undermining safe patient care and with many choosing to leave the profession for better-paid jobs elsewhere, the need to pay a demoralised and unvalued profession fairly could not be more pressing.’