latest health care news

31.10.16

FYFV in danger because of lack of funding, MPs warn chancellor

Health Select Committee members have urged the government to provide more funding for the NHS in the Autumn Statement in order to deliver the Five Year Forward View (FYFV).

In a letter to chancellor Philip Hammond, signed by committee chair Dr Sarah Wollaston and four other MPs, they said that the government should stop saying it has given the NHS £10bn because this “risks giving a false impression that the NHS is awash with cash”.

Instead, they argued the £10bn figure is calculated by adding an extra year to the Spending Review period and cuts from areas such as public health and staff training, which are needed to deliver the FYFV.

The MPs said the government should “seriously consider a means of increasing the capital funding available to the NHS” in the Autumn Statement, with social care spending to be prioritised.

The letter argued that the FYFV cannot be achieved without adequate capital, and that the capital budget is currently being “plundered to shore up revenue spending”.

It also cited evidence from Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers, that STP footprints are developing over-ambitious and undeliverable plans, and said STPs “need to be supported”.

Stephen Dorrell, chair of the NHS Confederation, said: “The NHS Confederation has long argued that it is misleading to suggest the NHS budget is being protected when the same is not true of social care and public health.

“In the past few weeks a string of highly reputable health organisations have spoken of the enormous strains on the system. This is impacting on staff morale and most importantly on the care available to those who need it most.

“The government must be honest with the public about exactly how much it is spending on the NHS and social care. Only by providing this clarity can it ensure the system is sustainable for future generations.”

Commenting on the letter, John Appleby, chief economist at the Nuffield Trust, said: “The health secretary himself has admitted that the NHS is facing one of the most difficult periods in its history, and social care is widely acknowledged to be on its knees.

“The committee’s letter to the chancellor should therefore focus minds within the Treasury to step in to address this before it begins to seriously affect patient care.”

Richard Murray, director of policy at the King’s Fund, argued that the committee members are right to “highlight the huge financial pressures that the NHS is facing”, especially later in this Parliament “when funding will barely increase in real terms”.

“It is no longer credible to argue that the NHS can continue to meet demand for services and deliver current standards of care at the same time as staying within its budget,” Murray added.

He also agreed that social care should be “the most urgent priority in the Autumn Statement”.

Dr Mark Porter, chair of the BMA council, added: “Our calls are now being echoed by experts and interested parties from all sides of the political landscape now. The prime minister and chancellor need to explain how exactly the NHS will keep up with rising demand without the necessary investment.

“The NHS is already the most efficient healthcare system in the world. The notion that the funding crisis can be solved with further efficiency savings is a myth, and these are not savings, they are year-on-year cuts that have driven almost every acute trust in England into deficit, led to a crisis in general practice and a community and social care system on the brink of collapse.”

Paul Briddock, director of policy at the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), backed the letter’s signatories, citing evidence from a 2015 survey that found 92% of finance directors were sceptical that they would have enough money to implement the FYFV.

“It is clear the NHS is struggling financially, and we share the committee’s views that extra funding is needed to cope with the demand on services,” he said.

Briddock added that the committee’s Temperature Check survey, out in early December, would show whether NHS finance directors feel that the financial targets for trusts are achievable.

But a government spokesperson said: “The government has backed the NHS’ own plan for the future with a £10bn real-terms increase in its funding a year by 2020-21, helping to ease the pressures on hospitals, GPs, and mental health services. It is wrong to suggest otherwise.

“As the chief executive of NHS England said last year, the case for the NHS has been heard and actively supported.

“We have also allowed local government to increase social care spending by the end of Parliament, with access to up to £3.5bn of new support.”

Have you got a story to tell? Would you like to become an NHE columnist? If so, click here.

Comments

Jill Elson   31/10/2016 at 15:32

Community Care is collapsing due to the inability to recruit enough nurses or personal care workers. In a rural area it is very difficult to provide due to the distances they have to travel. People do request to be cared for in their homes but we must be aware of social isolation and the need to care for the carers who are often their partners who do need respite from these duties. The requests are then for day care - to provide a meal, bath, hair washing, complimentary therapy etc. It is then that transport becomes a high need - specialised or otherwise. Public transport is being reduced, volunteers are becoming in very short supply due to the rising of the retirement age, low interest rates meaning those with savings have a reduced income. NHS contracted out services (sitting ambulance) whose criteria has been changed and they will not (in Devon) people to NON NHS establishments - Hospices, residential care homes that provide day care etc. Community Transport is usually run by local charities who are finding difficulty in raising funds due to low interest rates meaning Trusts do not have as much money to give in grants, lottery is not available for revenue costs. Local Charities are also affected by the rise in minimum wage, overhead costs etc.

Maurice Neville   01/11/2016 at 21:56

If the Government persists in lying about the fictional £10 Billion its credibility in regard to STPs and every other aspect of the FYFV is utterly blown.

Add your comment

national health executive tv

more videos >

featured articles

View all News

last word

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad, president of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), sits down with National Health Executive as part of our Last Word Q&A series. Would you talk us throu more > more last word articles >

health service focus

View all News

comment

NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

23/09/2019NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

Reason to celebrate as NHS says watching rugby can be good for your mental ... more >
Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

21/06/2019Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

Taking time to say thank you is one of the hidden pillars of a society. Bei... more >

interviews

Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

24/10/2019Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

Today, speaking at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) annual... more >

the scalpel's daily blog

Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

28/08/2020Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive, NHS Employers & Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Confederation The common enemy of coronavirus united the public side by side wi... more >
read more blog posts from 'the scalpel' >