New figures lay bare the consequences of years of underinvestment in the NHS
Commenting on the publication today of the NHS monthly performance statistics, Tim Gardner, Assistant Director of Policy at the Health Foundation, said:
'Lord Darzi’s diagnosis and the new figures published today lay bare the consequences of a decade of underinvestment in the NHS and the immense challenge for the new Government in reversing the NHS’ decline.'
'The waiting list for routine treatment remained close to record levels in July with the number of cases stuck at over 7.6 million. The impact of the pressures is also being acutely felt in emergency departments during what has been the busiest summer for A&E in over 15 years. In August, over 28,000 patients waited more than 12 hours in emergency departments for a hospital bed.'
'NHS staff are working as hard as ever but are hamstrung by outdated equipment and crumbling infrastructure. This was a political choice – in 2022, we estimated that the UK would have benefited from £33bn more capital investment between 2010 and 2019 had we matched other EU14 countries’ investment as a share of GDP. Beyond the NHS, Lord Darzi is right to highlight how cuts in local public health budgets, political neglect of social care, and weak investment in wider public services have contributed to the nation’s deteriorating health.'
'The Government has pledged to get the NHS back on its feet but it will need to be realistic about the scale of reform and investment that is required. We need to shift more resources towards primary care and community-based services, NHS buildings and equipment must be modernised, and technology must be harnessed to improve care for patients. Only then will we make the NHS fit for the future.'
Notes to editors
- How does UK health spending compare across Europe over the past decade? (2022)
- The Independent Investigation into the National Health Service in England by Lord Ara Darzi
Media Contact
Alex Boyle
Alex.boyle@health.org.uk
020 7257 2093
About the Health Foundation
The Health Foundation is an independent charitable organisation working to build a healthier UK.
www.health.org.uk