The NHS is facing a deepening financial crisis
BMJ 2013; 347 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f4422 (Published 10 July 2013) Cite this as: BMJ 2013;347:f4422- Jon Ford, head, Health Policy and Economic Research Unit, BMA
- jford{at}bma.org.uk
It is 65 years since the creation of a national health service, free for all at the point of delivery. It is this founding principle that makes up the DNA of the NHS. But for it to remain a reality the NHS has to remain financially viable. It is why politicians continue to promise to protect and increase the health budget year on year.
The reality, however, is very different. The government’s latest comprehensive spending review showed that the massive, annual, and recurrent “efficiency savings” target for the NHS in England—dubbed the Nicholson challenge—will continue for at least a year longer than originally mooted. This means that by April 2016 the service will have to make do with only three quarters of the budget it actually needs to keep pace with demand and technological advances. And the response so …
Log in
Log in using your username and password
Log in through your institution
Subscribe from £173 *
Subscribe and get access to all BMJ articles, and much more.
* For online subscription
Access this article for 1 day for:
£38 / $45 / €42 (excludes VAT)
You can download a PDF version for your personal record.