Will the Chancellor follow through on his hint of financial boost for NHS?
Chancellor Philip Hammond has offered conditional promise of more money for the NHS.
In his Spring Statement, he said the government had stumped up ‘almost £9bn extra for our NHS and our social care system’ with ‘£4bn going into the NHS in 2018/19 alone’.
He went on to say that more might be forthcoming, but hinted it all depended on whether the management and unions associated with the NHS reached an agreement on a pay modernisation deal for nurses and agenda for change staff.
Further information
BBC: Philip Hammond hints at ‘headroom’ for more NHS spending
Gov.uk: Spring Statement 2018: Philip Hammond’s speech
Gov.uk: Spring Statement 2018: what you need to know
Health Service Journal: Spring statement: Tough choices ahead for the government
PharmaTimes: Chancellor criticised for lack of action on NHS
Wellards: Trusts warn of possible £1bn deficit by end of 2017/18
Wellards Fast-facts: How do the latest NHS plans affect health service finances