Short term imperatives must not crowd out long term ambitions to transform health and care

The NHS in England faces an extremely challenging winter and the prospect of very low growth in its budget thereafter. The Chancellor’s autumn statement gave priority to cutting some taxes, albeit with the overall tax burden set to reach record levels. It also outlined public spending plans so tight they were described by one think tank as “implausible.”1The government has rejected a request from NHS England for additional funds in the current financial year to cover the costs of industrial action. It has also been adamant that the NHS—and other public services—should redouble efforts to increase productivity. In response, NHS England has reiterated the importance of the NHS achieving financial balance this year and reprioritized national budgets to release some funds to help deliver this. It has also acknowledged the need to work towards a limited number of targets and accept that progress in reducing waiting times, one of the…
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