NHS crisis: where should any new money be spent?
BMJ 2017; 356 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j283 (Published 19 January 2017) Cite this as: BMJ 2017;356:j283
- Zosia Kmietowicz,
- Gareth Iacobucci,
- Abi Rimmer
- The BMJ
Until 2014 the NHS in England was given emergency funding to cover extra demand on services over winter. However, seen as a “panic measure” that came too late in the year to be used properly, it was scrapped in 2014. Instead NHS England has for the past three years built the £400m annual payment into local allocations up front. Despite the NHS experiencing its worst crisis in 15 years, Theresa May has been steadfast in her refusal to pump extra money into the system. Simon Stevens, NHS England’s chief executive, has been saying for some time that he would put any extra funding available into social care.
The BMJ asked doctors, managers, and council representatives where they would put money from a winter pressure cash injection.
Joe Harrison, chief executive, Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
“Invest any additional monies in community, mental health, and social care services, which as a statement coming from an acute care trust chief executive might seem slightly odd. However, specific targeted money to reduce the numbers of patients taking up beds who could be looked after elsewhere is, in my view, critical to taking the pressure off the acute service.” …
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.