The Health Foundation's response to Jeremy Hunt's statement on the government implementation of the 'Five year forward view'

Dr Jennifer Dixon, Chief Executive of the Health Foundation has responded to Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt’s statement on the Five year forward view, and the funding announcements expected in Wednesday's Autumn statement. She has said:

'The to-do list for the NHS set out in the Forward view is right but very tough. An extra £2bn is a significant sum, but only covers what the NHS currently needs to meet demand from a growing and ageing population. What we all want is better quality care for the money – that will mean progress on a scale never seen before in the NHS.

'The extra funds announced today, while welcome, don’t provide the extent of investment the NHS now needs to transform the way it delivers services. To support the Five year forward view additional specific, time-limited pump priming investment (a transformation fund) is needed to move to new models of care as well as a commitment to the additional £8bn required by the end of the decade. Without this, the NHS, government and the public will face hard decisions in future as the NHS tries to cope with increasing demand.

'There is plenty of talent and mission among staff to achieve the necessary changes – apart from investment the challenge is to create a stable strategy which mobilises that talent and other assets in the health and care system effectively. No further major structural reorganisation would help.'

Media contact

Mike Findlay, Media Manager
T: 020 7257 8047
E: mike.findlay@health.org.uk