Economic analysts for the Health Foundation have demonstrated just how far behind the UK has fallen in terms of healthcare spending. With this in mind, will promises of extra funding be enough to put the NHS back on track?
In the lead up to the election, the NHS became the focus for attention, with all parties pledging increased funding after a prolonged period of austerity. But what exactly is the state of healthcare spending, in the UK, and how does it compare to other OECD countries?
There has been a succession of announcements around funding in recent months – from £184 million loan funding for 13 Trusts to invest in urgent hospital upgrades; £200 million to replace more than 300 diagnostic machines across the country; to plans for a new hospital building programme, with a £2.8 billion investment for six new large hospitals by 2025.
However, the Health Foundation has described this funding as “piecemeal”, making it “hard for Trusts to adequately plan their spending”. Anita Charlesworth, Director of Research and Economics at the Health Foundation, says that what is needed is “a substantial, long-term capital settlement”, based on “a clear assessment of the healthcare service’s needs”.
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