HEALTH SPENDING £5BN LESS THAN GOVERNMENT PLANNED – High pressure on the NHS and the commitment to increase staffing
The government is spending £5.5bn less on health in England than it suggested it would be at this stage, the Institute for Fiscal Studies says. Plans set out in the 2019 election campaign indicated the budget would increase by 3.3% a year above inflation during this Parliament, the IFS said.
But despite extra being put in to cover the high inflation seen, spending had risen by only 2.7% a year on average. The government defended its record, saying it was making extra investment.
Funding had reached record levels and was making a “real difference” in cutting waiting lists, the Department of Health and Social Care said. The health budget for this year stands at £179.6bn. Most of this is going on the NHS but it also includes money for public health, social care and training.
The IFS said England was not unique in facing this challenge, given the high rates of inflation globally, and had, in this Parliament, increased health spending more than many parts of Europe – including Northern Ireland and Scotland but not Wales.
But the pressures on the NHS and the commitment to increase staffing made under the 15-year NHS workforce plan, backed by both the Conservatives and Labour, meant tough decisions would be needed.