19.05.16
‘Watershed year’ for NHS as King’s Fund figures reveal scale of crisis
The coming year will mark a ‘watershed’ for the NHS as its financial problems risk leading to deteriorating care, the King’s Fund has warned in its latest quarterly monitoring report.
A survey by the think tank shows that 65% of NHS trust finance directors and 54% of CCG finance leads felt that patient care in their area had worsened in the past year, the worst result since the King’s Fund began tracking this question in 2012.
Only 12% of CCG leaders and 2% of finance directors felt their care had improved.
John Appleby, chief economist at the King’s Fund, said: “Our latest survey confirms what we already knew, that 2015-16 was a very difficult year for the NHS, reflected in huge deficits and worsening performance. 2016-17 is a watershed year for the NHS in which it has been tasked with eradicating deficits and improving performance.
“Despite significant additional funding and a huge effort to contain deficits, it is clear that this is going to be a Herculean challenge.”
The report also confirms the latest figures from the NHS in showing that its performance hit an all-time low in 2015-16.
The amount of patients waiting more than four hours in A&E was at 8%, the highest amount since 2003-04. The number of patients waiting for hospital treatment reached 3.7 million, a 17% increase from last year and the highest number since 2007. Delays in hospitals increased by 15% to 5,700 patients, the highest amount since 2008.
Stephen Dalton, acting chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “Today’s report outlines the alarming reality that ongoing financial strain on the NHS is impacting our members’ efforts to deliver high quality care. Demand for care continues to rise, putting further pressure on an already strained health service.
“Fundamental change in how we provide care is critically needed if our members are to be successful in meeting the twin challenges of providing high quality services while balancing the books. Hospitals must be allowed to focus on treating those that need to be there. We also need to make sure that people receive the care where and when they need it most – often this will be in their own homes or within their community.”
Providers fear deficit will get worse
The report also shows that 67% of providers ended the year in deficit, including 86% of acute trusts. Despite the government’s commitment of £1.8bn towards reducing the deficit, providers expected it to get worse.
Nearly 20% of CCGs and over 50% of trusts expect to end 2016-17 in deficit.
Commenting on the latest Quarterly Monitoring Report, Saffron Cordery, director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, said the latest report is another stark reminder of the extent of the challenge facing our NHS.
“The King’s Fund paints a bleak picture of a service struggling to manage in the face of unprecedented financial constraints and record numbers of patients requiring treatment,” she said.
“Eighty per cent of NHS providers are in deficit. Hospital, mental health, community and ambulance services have made heroic efforts to cope during this time but it is unrealistic to expect them to keep teetering on the edge of a precipice.”
Janet Davies, CEO and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing added that what is most worrying about the report is that trusts are continuing to get further into debt which impacts on patient care.
She said that without urgent investment it is hard to imagine this situation improving.
“The warning signs of financial pressures and worsening conditions should not be ignored any longer,” noted Davies. “Staff are working above and beyond to keep services going but this cannot continue forever. The NHS needs more investment and more staff.”
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