Responding to the Autumn Statement, the interim chief executive
of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:
“Today’s announcement of £3.3bn for the NHS over each of the next
two years is a welcome sign that the Treasury has heeded warnings
from frontline NHS leaders. It will go some way towards making up
the shortfall in NHS budgets caused by inflation and will allow
the NHS to deliver on its key priorities.
“Trust leaders will also have heard the chancellor’s call
for efficiency savings and demands to weed out waste. And
while they will rise to the challenge, we must not forget that
this announcement follows years of underinvestment in which
health spending has fallen below that of comparable European
countries.
“Similarly, the chancellor’s commitment to publish an independent
assessment of NHS workforce needs next year is welcome. This
morning, over 100 health and care organisations – including NHS
Providers - wrote to the chancellor asking for this and we are
pleased our voices have been heard. As a next step, it is
essential that this assessment is published in full with an
explicit commitment to provide the necessary funding.
“But while there is much trust leaders can welcome in today’s
Autumn Statement, they are also keenly aware of the extremely
challenging state of wider public finances. The impact of double
digit inflation and deep budget cuts to other key public services
will exacerbate the cost of living crisis and consequently, pile
on the pressure on the NHS.
“They have seen first-hand the devastating impact that inflation,
cost of living and poverty is having on the staff they employ and
the patients they treat.
“And while additional funding for social care is similarly
welcome, delaying the charging reforms put forward by Sir Andrew
Dilnot is a backwards step away from meaningful social care
reform, which will continue to leave many people facing
unpredictable care costs. Trust leaders are seeing daily how
years of under-investment in social care has knock on effects for
the NHS with thousands of people staying in hospital longer than
needed. We need radical action – and fast.”
