WIREDGOV

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across the healthcare system, responded to NHS England’s warning that elective waiting time standards “will not be fully funded and met” next year unless there are cuts to some services

“NHS England is merely pointing out the consequence of inaction. It is simply not realistic or reasonable to expect an English health and social care system faced with increasing demand and inadequate levels of funding to achieve everything forevermore.

“We made it very clear to the Government in the run-up to the Budget that it should take into account the enormous challenges we have to confront over the next few years.

“We gathered together the largest coalition of doctors, patients, carers, voluntary groups as well as our NHS organisations and social care partners to plead with the Chancellor to take bold action – but another golden opportunity has sailed on by.”