NHS Confederation Report on NHS spending
10th June 2009
In response to projections released by the NHS Confederation that predict significant reductions in the real terms NHS Budget from 2011 onwards Director of the Patients Association Katherine Murphy said “The NHS has benefited from recent spending increases-this good progress must not be jeopardised by cuts in the future. We still spend significantly less on healthcare in the UK than comparable countries. If we want a first class health service we must put in the necessary investment.
We know public spending is going to be squeezed but the NHS should be given top priority because the public relies on it so extensively for their own care and for the care of their relatives. The Government is promising to listen more and I’m sure if they asked, voters would tell them that the NHS needs to be protected from cuts.
More must be done to reduce waste and inefficiency. Infections, missed appointments, consultancy fees and the cost of agency staff are just come of the things that lead to wasted resources that need to be addressed to help save money.
