NHS funding crisis of the government’s own making, says TUC

embargo: 00:01h Wednesday 16 December 2015

Commenting on today’s (Wednesday) National Audit Office’s warning that the NHS faces a “severe” funding shortfall of £2.2 billion this year, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: 

“This is a crisis of the government’s own making. Over the last five years it has failed to provide the necessary funding the NHS needs. 

“The squeeze is set to continue, with inadequate funding increases over the next five years and a £22bn efficiency target that few think can be achieved. 

“The funding announced in the Spending Review will go some way to plugging the gap in the short term. But Jeremy Hunt still expects to somehow deliver extra services with no extra money.

“With further cuts to social care, training budgets and public health, we can expect to see our NHS stretched to limit, while dedicated health workers struggle with mounting debts and stagnating pay.”

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