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Seven-day NHS 'impossible under current funding levels' Seven-day NHS 'impossible under current funding levels'
(about 1 hour later)
A seven-day NHS is "impossible" to achieve with the current funding and staffing levels, the chief executive of NHS Providers says.A seven-day NHS is "impossible" to achieve with the current funding and staffing levels, the chief executive of NHS Providers says.
Chris Hopson told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme that "something has to give" and there should be a debate about which services to sacrifice "rather than pretend the gap doesn't exist".Chris Hopson told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme that "something has to give" and there should be a debate about which services to sacrifice "rather than pretend the gap doesn't exist".
Figures show waiting times and delayed hospital discharges at record levels.Figures show waiting times and delayed hospital discharges at record levels.
The government says it is giving NHS England the £10bn it asked for.The government says it is giving NHS England the £10bn it asked for.
NHS Providers, the organisation that represents hospitals in England, says unless urgent funding is provided it will have to cut staff, bring in charges or introduce "draconian rationing" of treatment, for example, of non-urgent operations.NHS Providers, the organisation that represents hospitals in England, says unless urgent funding is provided it will have to cut staff, bring in charges or introduce "draconian rationing" of treatment, for example, of non-urgent operations.
It highlights that 80% of England's acute hospitals are in financial deficit, compared with 5% three years ago - while missed A&E waiting time targets have risen from 10% to 90%.It highlights that 80% of England's acute hospitals are in financial deficit, compared with 5% three years ago - while missed A&E waiting time targets have risen from 10% to 90%.
Is enough being spent on the NHS?Is enough being spent on the NHS?
Mr Hopson said the NHS was under the "greatest pressure that we've been for a generation".Mr Hopson said the NHS was under the "greatest pressure that we've been for a generation".
He added: "Jeremy Hunt and others have made a very strong case for seven-day services, but it seems to us it's impossible on the current level of staff and the current money we have available.He added: "Jeremy Hunt and others have made a very strong case for seven-day services, but it seems to us it's impossible on the current level of staff and the current money we have available.
"If something has to give at the moment, when we're trying to do what we're currently doing, it can't cover important new policies like seven-day services.""If something has to give at the moment, when we're trying to do what we're currently doing, it can't cover important new policies like seven-day services."
AnalysisAnalysis
By Nick Triggle, BBC health correspondentBy Nick Triggle, BBC health correspondent
On almost every measure, the last few years has seen a decline in performance in the NHS in England (although the rest of the UK is not immune to this either).On almost every measure, the last few years has seen a decline in performance in the NHS in England (although the rest of the UK is not immune to this either).
That should not come as a surprise. Overall the last five years has seen the tightest financial settlement in the history of the NHS.That should not come as a surprise. Overall the last five years has seen the tightest financial settlement in the history of the NHS.
To stem the decline, ministers agreed 2016-17 would see the biggest cash injection - nearly 4% above inflation - since the Labour years.To stem the decline, ministers agreed 2016-17 would see the biggest cash injection - nearly 4% above inflation - since the Labour years.
The jury is still out over whether that will have an impact. But even if it does the following years will see much smaller rises so the fear is any respite will only be short-term.The jury is still out over whether that will have an impact. But even if it does the following years will see much smaller rises so the fear is any respite will only be short-term.
Yes there is a productivity drive, but it is the most ambitious one ever set. Most observers believe it would be amazing if it was achieved in full.Yes there is a productivity drive, but it is the most ambitious one ever set. Most observers believe it would be amazing if it was achieved in full.
So that leaves the government with three choices: Put more money in, accept a further decline in standards or cut back on what the NHS does. None of them are particularly palatable for the government.So that leaves the government with three choices: Put more money in, accept a further decline in standards or cut back on what the NHS does. None of them are particularly palatable for the government.
Is enough being spent on the NHS?Is enough being spent on the NHS?
Mr Hopson also said the numbers of hospitals in deficit, and the missed waiting times for A&E, showed there was "clearly a system-level problem - it's not a problem of poor management".Mr Hopson also said the numbers of hospitals in deficit, and the missed waiting times for A&E, showed there was "clearly a system-level problem - it's not a problem of poor management".
And he said people on the front line in the NHS were saying that they "cannot provide the right quality of care, and meet the performance standards, on the money that's available, and something has to give".And he said people on the front line in the NHS were saying that they "cannot provide the right quality of care, and meet the performance standards, on the money that's available, and something has to give".
Mr Hopson said he wanted to see the seven-day NHS idea abandoned, and more money put into the NHS through general taxation.Mr Hopson said he wanted to see the seven-day NHS idea abandoned, and more money put into the NHS through general taxation.
But he added that the NHS's chairs and chief executives were "absolutely signed up" to deliver "stretching savings targets, and stretching productivity".But he added that the NHS's chairs and chief executives were "absolutely signed up" to deliver "stretching savings targets, and stretching productivity".
"What they're not signed up to is being asked to deliver the impossible, and then being chastised when they inevitably fall short.""What they're not signed up to is being asked to deliver the impossible, and then being chastised when they inevitably fall short."
His warning comes days before the Commons Health Select Committee will decide whether to launch a special inquiry into the state of the NHS in England and two months before the government announces its spending plans in the Autumn Statement.His warning comes days before the Commons Health Select Committee will decide whether to launch a special inquiry into the state of the NHS in England and two months before the government announces its spending plans in the Autumn Statement.
In July more than 50 hospitals in England were given the go-ahead to miss key waiting time targets this year to help ease their financial problems.In July more than 50 hospitals in England were given the go-ahead to miss key waiting time targets this year to help ease their financial problems.
Fines for missing targets in A&E, cancer and routine operations have also been scrapped altogether and a new failure regime is being set up for the worst-performing trusts.Fines for missing targets in A&E, cancer and routine operations have also been scrapped altogether and a new failure regime is being set up for the worst-performing trusts.
The Vale of York trust considered suspending non-urgent treatment for obese patients and smokers for a year in order to ease financial pressures before bosses intervened.The Vale of York trust considered suspending non-urgent treatment for obese patients and smokers for a year in order to ease financial pressures before bosses intervened.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd rejected Mr Hopson's suggestion that a seven-day NHS was impossible to deliver.Home Secretary Amber Rudd rejected Mr Hopson's suggestion that a seven-day NHS was impossible to deliver.
"I don't think he's right. We set it out clearly that it was something we were going to deliver in our manifesto," she told Andrew Marr. "The health secretary and the government consulted with [NHS Chief Executive] Simon Stevens and asked him about what scale of money was necessary - we've delivered on that money," she told Andrew Marr.
"The health secretary and the government consulted with (NHS Chief Executive) Simon Stevens and asked him about what scale of money was necessary - we've delivered on that money."
UK fundingUK funding
But Chris Ham, chief executive of the King's Fund think tank, said NHS staff were increasingly unable to cope. But Chris Ham, chief executive of the King's Fund think tank, said the government should heed "warning signs" and not wait for a "full scale crisis to develop".
"It is simply not realistic to expect hard-pressed staff to deliver new commitments like seven-day services while also meeting waiting time targets and reducing financial deficits. He added: "It is simply not realistic to expect hard-pressed staff to deliver new commitments like seven-day services while also meeting waiting time targets and reducing financial deficits.
"With winter approaching, the government should heed the warning signs rather than wait for a full scale crisis to develop." Diane Abbott MP, shadow health secretary, said: "Years of Tory underfunding of the NHS has made it is impossible to provide the right quality of service and meet performance targets.
In June, Northern Ireland Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir said its health service was to receive an extra £72m to help deal with pressures in the service, bringing the total additional funding for health to £200m in 2016/17. "The government needs to properly fund the NHS if it is to function properly. This is what Labour would do."
In June, Northern Ireland Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir said its health service was to receive an extra £72m to help deal with pressures in the service, bringing the total additional funding for health to £200m in 2016-17.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced in June that minimum staffing levels in Scotland's NHS are to be enshrined in law.Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced in June that minimum staffing levels in Scotland's NHS are to be enshrined in law.
And Welsh Assembly Finance Minister Jane Hutt announced last December that the NHS would be getting a net boost of £278m under the Welsh government's spending plans for 2016-17.And Welsh Assembly Finance Minister Jane Hutt announced last December that the NHS would be getting a net boost of £278m under the Welsh government's spending plans for 2016-17.