Royal colleges and health faculties have come together to urge
the Chancellor of the Exchequer to use the Autumn Budget to
deliver a long-term investment in adult social care, public
health services and the NHS workforce , or otherwise risk the NHS
failing to meet demands despite the recent £20.5 billion funding
increase.
A letter to the Chancellor, signed by the Royal College of
Physicians, Royal College of Surgeons, Royal College of Surgeons
of Edinburgh, Royal College of Anaesthetists, Royal College of
Psychiatrists, Royal College of Nursing, Royal Pharmaceutical
Society, Royal College of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Public
Health and Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, makes
the call on behalf of healthcare professionals working across the
UK and is an indication of how widely and strongly concerns are
felt.
The letter warns that unless the Chancellor uses the Budget as an
opportunity to build upon the NHS funding settlement, plans for
truly integrated care will not be possible and consequent demand
on NHS services will not be manageable.
“There is no excuse for delay,” the eleven organisations write.
“Once again we face a winter of high bed occupancy and low staff
morale, which an injection of adult social care funding will
significantly alleviate.”
The letter also points toward a healthier population as the key
to the long-term sustainability of all public services, including
NHS and social care services, citing strong evidence that
prevention is cost-effective and arguing that every part of the
system is linked. It concludes: “We can no longer afford to plan
and fund health and care services in isolation. A stronger
strategy to make sure we live both long and healthy lives must
start now.”
This is the full text of the letter:
Dear Mr Hammond
On behalf of healthcare professionals working across the UK, we
believe that the Autumn Budget is an opportunity to build upon
the significant, welcome NHS funding settlement, by delivering a
long-term investment in adult social care and public health
services and workforce. Without renewed investment in these
areas, plans for truly integrated care will not be possible and
consequent demand on NHS services will not be manageable.
Our professions have worked hard to increase the number of people
who live into old age. But that has brought challenges for which
we as a country have not properly planned. 40% of people over the
age of 65 have a long-term health condition. These conditions
must be well managed if older people are to enjoy their later
years.
The Local Government Association estimates that adult social care
services in England face a £3.5 billion funding gap by 2025. And
that is just to maintain existing standards of care. This gap
needs to be plugged, and a long term funding solution identified,
as a matter of urgency.
If services caring for older and disabled people are not properly
funded, both they and our patients in primary and secondary care
suffer. People who could and should be supported in the community
will remain stranded in our waiting rooms and hospital. This not
only leads to
poorer outcomes for them, it significantly reduces the resources
available to treat other patients.
There is no excuse for delay. Once again we face a winter of high
bed occupancy and low staff morale, which an injection of adult
social care funding will significantly alleviate.
A healthier population is key to the long-term sustainability of
all public services, including NHS and social care services.
There is strong evidence that prevention interventions are
cost-effective, reduce health inequalities, and can deliver
improvements in health and return on investment in the short,
medium, and long-term.
Every part of the system is linked, and we can no longer afford
to plan and fund health and care services in isolation. A
stronger strategy to make sure we live both long and healthy
lives must start now.
Yours sincerely
cc Rt Hon , Secretary of State for Health
and Social Care
Dr , No 10 Health Policy Lead
Notes to Editors
A copy of the letter with crests and signatories is attached to
this email.
