NHS Confederation - New figures show why NHS urgently needs funding certainty in upcoming Spending Review

13 Oct 2015 10:55 AM

Paul Healy, Senior Economics Advisor, NHS Confederation responded to Q1 NHS financial data published by Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Agency on 9th October.

“The billion pound NHS deficit now forecasted for Foundation Trusts is a symptom of problems across the entire health and social care system and we agree with Monitor that radical change must happen.

“Unfortunately financial planning in the NHS leaves the health service navigating in the dark without knowledge of how much funding will be available in six month’s time. Eighty-seven percent of our members want to see a long-term financial commitment from the Government on health and social care so that we can plan changes and become more sustainable. We also want to see £4 billion of Government’s £8 billion funding commitment available to the NHS within the next two years.

“Hospitals and other frontline NHS organisations have all-but exhausted their options for becoming more efficient. They are also increasingly affected by cuts in social care, local GP shortfall and a host of other challenges.

“We need an end to the short-term approach to finances which is causing financial instability in the NHS and acting as a hindrance to transforming patient care.”

Further information:

http://www.nhsconfed.org/~/media/Confederation/Files/public%20access/Spending_Review_Representation_Care_Support_Sector.pdf

NHS Trust Sector Financial Performance - 1516 Q1

Exec Summary - Performance of the NHS Foundation Trust Sector - 3 months ended 30 June