Cameron pledges NHS boost – but will it be enough?
David Cameron will use his first major speech since the election to renew his vow to create a “seven-day” national health service. But doctors and nurses want to know how the plan will be funded.
Speaking at a GP surgery in the West Midlands, the prime minister will again commit to increasing budgets by at least £8bn a year by 2020.
Describing the health service as the embodiment of “one nation” politics, he will reassure the public that it is “safe in our hands”.
The Conservatives made clear during the election campaign that they supported a plan put together by NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens to fill a funding gap estimated at £30bn a year by 2020.
The scheme would see £22bn covered through efficiencies, with the remainder coming from government coffers.
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Transforming services
In his speech, Mr Cameron is to say the proposals will “transform” services across the country, with more GPs, faster access to new drugs and treatments and a greater focus on mental health and healthy living.
“There is nothing that embodies the spirit of one nation coming together – nothing that working people depend on more – than the NHS,” the PM is to say.
“Our commitment is to free healthcare for everyone – wherever you are and whenever you need it.
“That means getting the best care and making that care available for everyone – free – wherever they are and whenever they need it.
“So I believe that together – by sticking to the plan – we can become the first country in the world to deliver a truly seven-day NHS.”
Read more: is Osborne committed to extra £30bn for NHS by 2020?
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Nurses’ warning
But Royal College of Nursing Chief Executive Peter Carter warned that nurses would resist any changes to payments they receive for working outside office hours.
Dr Carter told the Independent: “I would particularly give a really strong warning to the secretary of state: any attacks on unsocial hours, weekend working payments, would be strongly resisted.
“The membership is quite clear. Unsocial hours, weekend working, Christmas day and bank holidays – they get a very modest higher level of remuneration. Any attack on that and I do fear it would result in industrial action.”
Delivering additional care
Dr Mark Porter, BMA council chairman, said: “Patients should have access to high-quality healthcare whenever they need it, and many GP and hospital services are available around the clock, seven days a week.
“What remains much less clear is how the government intends to translate this announcement into reality. Crucially, the £8bn promised by the prime minister is the bare minimum needed for the NHS to simply stand still and will not pay for extra services.
“The real question for the government is how they plan to deliver additional care when the NHS is facing a funding gap of £30bn and there is a chronic shortage of GPs and hospital doctors, especially in acute and emergency medicine, where access to 24-hour care is vital.”