Interesting article with some useful figures on funding
Memo to Theresa May: it is vital that the NHS gets more money
"The NHS’s share of national income rose from 5 per cent in 2000 to nearly 8 per cent by 2009. Since then it has fallen to 7 per cent and, by the estimate of the King’s Fund, is heading towards 6 per cent. What this means is that Britain spends about 30 per cent less per person than Germany. So much for the NHS as the fabled “bottomless pit”.
Since 2010 the pressures have been multiplied by the government’s policy of imposing deep cuts in the social care budgets of local authorities. The effect has been to transfer the burden to the NHS — with elderly people needing care clogging hospital beds at twice or three times the price of nursing homes or help in the community.
Nor has government done much to make its own case. Last year Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, picked a fight with junior doctors about working patterns. The doctors, Mr Hunt insisted, had to take a cut in weekend pay so he could meet the government’s promise of a “seven-day” NHS. After a series of acrimonious strikes Mr Hunt won the battle and lost the argument. A few months on, it is obvious that hospitals cannot afford the doctors and nurses to properly staff themselves even for five days a week."
The Financial Times states that Mr Stevens is a moderniser and is keen to move the focus onto primary and preventive care. His plan can deliver a cheaper and more effective health service but it needs the PM to face reality and provide more funding.
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https://www.ft.com/content/50d3a12e-...b-e7eb37a6aa8e