The £8 billion promised to the NHS must be front-loaded early in the new parliament’s five-year term, or there will be “significant consequences for patient care”, warns the King’s Fund.
It issued a stark warning ahead of the Budget announcement next week, which said that if additional funding is not found soon the “growing black hole” in NHS finances will have dire consequences.
The £8 billion promised to the NHS must be front-loaded early in the new parliament’s five-year term, or there will be “significant consequences for patient care”, warns the King’s Fund.
It issued a stark warning ahead of the Budget announcement next week, which said that if additional funding is not found soon the “growing black hole” in NHS finances will have dire consequences.
In a briefing published today, the think tank warns that financial problems are now endemic among NHS providers, with even the “most prestigious and well-run hospitals forecasting deficits”.
Richard Murray, director of policy at The King’s Fund, said: “If the Chancellor does not find additional funding in the Budget, the government must face the consequences – either patient care will suffer or the Department of Health will overspend its budget this year.
“NHS leaders have signalled a stronger focus on financial control and there is still significant scope to increase productivity in the NHS, but this will not be enough to close the black hole in NHS finances,” he said.
Jeremy Hunt, the secretary of state for health and Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, both reiterated recently that the NHS would not receive any further funding increases this year.
