Will the government act on a petition to re-think long-term health and care funding?
The NHS Confederation has written a petition asking the government to commit to a funding plan for health and social care up to the year 2035.
The Confederation, which represents healthcare providers and commissioners in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, says the petition is in response to the crippling effects of rising demand, underfunding and workforce shortages within the NHS.
The organisation hopes to get 100,000 signatures and force a debate on the issue in Parliament.
The NHS is gradually becoming unsustainable, claims the organisation, and repeated warnings have left services on the brink.
NHS Confederation chief executive Niall Dickson said any long-term funding settlement must bring health and care together and move away from short-term cash injections that do not enable transformation.
The petition comes after the Prime Minister announced intentions for a long-term plan for the NHS in March. But it was unclear if social care would be included.
Without action, the health and care system will deteriorate further and millions of people will wait, suffer or die, said Mr Dickson.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies, the Health Foundation think-tank and the Confederation is to carry out a study into the funding needs of the UK’s health and care systems over the next 15 years. The study is due to be published in the next few weeks.
Further information
NHS Confederation: Government urged to back funding plan to 2035