Health Foundation responds to Budget

The Health Foundation today responded to the 2017 Budget.

Anita Charlesworth, Director of Research and Economics at the Health Foundation, said: 'The £1bn extra for social care announced in today’s Budget is to be welcomed. However, the health service’s own figures suggest that social care needs a minimum of £2bn next year – the National Living Wage alone adds around £900m to the cost of social care in 2017/18. 

'This will put unacceptable pressure on vulnerable and older people, and their families, who are struggling to manage on a daily basis.

'Not investing the amount needed in social care is a false economy. The clear message from local NHS plans is that without extra funding for social care, the NHS’s proposals to transform care and improve efficiency will be put at risk. Importantly, acute pressures due to crowding in A&E and delayed discharges are unlikely to change.

'The Chancellor also announced an extra £325m of capital funding for the NHS in England. But this year capital spending was cut by £1.2bn as investment budgets were raided to fund continuing deficits.

'The evidence is clear that wholesale transformation of the way health and social care is delivered is needed to ensure high quality care. The NHS, the social care system, and the thousands who rely on both every day, need adequate levels of investment and today’s budget falls short.'

Media contact

Jack Cutforth
jack.cutforth@health.org.uk
0207 664 4623

Notes to editors      

1. Budget documents show £2.4bn over three years for social care. This is the UK wide impact of the additional England investment of £2bn.