The consequences of ‘efficiency savings’ are being felt within the urology and continence care sector, according to Chris Whitehouse, chairman of the Urology Trade Association. He warns that cutting costs for urology devices risks causing avoidable urinary tract infections, and reducing the quality of life of patients.
While the UK Government wrestles with challenges for education, policing, infrastructure, and the environment, it’s unsurprising to see the NHS lead the political debate and headlines once again. The minority Conservative Government, in January 2019, published its NHS Long Term Plan, setting out its ambition to drive forward the personalised care agenda and protect patient choice along the way. This was backed up by further commitments, such as the emphasis placed on improving the overall quality of care, and patient safety in particular.
To achieve these aims, the Government set out ambitious spending targets for the NHS. The last two budget statements, by the most recent Chancellors of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond and Sajid Javid, built momentum behind these commitments – with the former suggesting that ‘the end of austerity is almost in sight’ and the latter signalling a £6.2 billion injection of additional NHS funding for 2020/21, taking the total NHS and Department of Health and Social Care budget well over the £130bn mark.
Challenges for the NHS
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