The RCP’s submission to the Spring Budget 2017 calls upon the government to make additional provision for the NHS, for social care and for public health initiatives. Unless immediate action is taken and investment is made, patient care will continue to deteriorate and this will ultimately result in higher costs for society as a whole.
Summary
Ensuring that the NHS is adequately resourced and supported is vital to ensure that patients continue to receive safe and effective care. However, funding has not kept up with rising demand. Action is needed to:
- ensure that NHS resources are able to meet the demand for health services
- ensure that realistic targets for efficiency savings are set that will not adversely impact on patient care
- protect funds for transformation so that genuine and sustainable transformation can occur in the NHS.
Public health must also be adequately resourced to reduce levels of ill health amongst the population, reducing demand on the NHS and ensuring that people can continue to lead fulfilling and productive lives for as long as possible.
Urgent and immediate action must be taken to ensure that the social care system is able to meet the needs of a growing older population.
Clarity is needed on funding for new training places for doctors and the place of doctors from overseas, in particular those from EU member states following the UK’s exit from the EU.
Contact
For more information please contact Peter Wasson, RCP senior policy and campaigns adviser: peter.wasson@rcplondon.ac.uk.