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The NHS will get extra money - chancellor NHS Budget plan not enough, say bosses
(35 minutes later)
NHS services in England are to get extra money to help them deal with the growing pressures they are facing, the chancellor has announced. The extra money announced by the chancellor in the Budget for the NHS in England is not enough, health service bosses say.
He said there would be an immediate cash injection of £350m this winter. Philip Hammond announced an immediate £350m boost for this winter followed by £1.6bn more next year for the front line above the rise already planned.
That will be followed by an additional £1.6bn next year on top of the rise already planned in what he said was an "exceptional" measure given there is a five-year funding plan in place. The chancellor described it as an "exceptional" measure, which recognised the pressures the service was under.
But experts questioned whether the money was enough to relieve pressure. But NHS leaders have already warned waiting times will continue to worsen.
It comes after NHS England boss Simon Stevens called for extra money in a speech earlier this month.
He said the public expected increased investment following claims made during the EU referendum that the NHS would benefit financially from Brexit.
Mr Stevens argued without action waiting times for key services would continue to worsen.
If you can't see the NHS Tracker, click or tap here.If you can't see the NHS Tracker, click or tap here.
NHS bosses offer lukewarm reaction
The Budget announcement comes after independent experts had called for £4bn extra next year and NHS England boss Simon Stevens had warned ministers the public expected increased investment following claims made during the EU referendum that the NHS would benefit financially from Brexit.
Mr Stevens said without action waiting times for key services would continue to worsen.
Responding to the Budget, NHS England chairman Sir Malcolm Grant said the extra money would go only "some way towards filling the accepted funding cap".
And he said the country could "no longer avoid the difficult debate" about what the health service could deliver for patients.
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents health service managers, said "tough choices and trade offs" would now need to be made.
"It is difficult to see how the NHS can deliver everything," he added.
The chancellor's plan
In total, Mr Hammond announced an extra £2.8bn of funding over the next three years.In total, Mr Hammond announced an extra £2.8bn of funding over the next three years.
That is on top of the rises already set out by the government's spending plans made in 2015. That is on top of the rises already set out by the government's spending plans made in 2015, which would have seen the front-line budget rise by £9bn in cash terms to nearly £116bn.
During these years the front-line budget was due to rise by £9bn in cash terms to nearly £116bn.
But, despite the latest announcement, the health service is still facing the tightest sustained financial settlement in its history.
Since 2010, the overall health budget - once other areas including training, regulation and healthy lifestyle programmes like stop smoking services have been factored in - has been growing by just over 1% a year on average once inflation is taken into account.
This compares to the 4% it has traditionally received.
Mr Hammond described the NHS as one of the country's "greatest institutions", but said he recognised it was "under pressure".Mr Hammond described the NHS as one of the country's "greatest institutions", but said he recognised it was "under pressure".
He said that was why he was taking the exceptional step of announcing extra funding outside of the formal spending review process.He said that was why he was taking the exceptional step of announcing extra funding outside of the formal spending review process.
"We will always back it," he told MPs."We will always back it," he told MPs.
He also said any pay rises for NHS staff next year - the 1% cap is being lifted - would not need to come from the front-line budget.He also said any pay rises for NHS staff next year - the 1% cap is being lifted - would not need to come from the front-line budget.
"Nurses deserve our deepest gratitude.""Nurses deserve our deepest gratitude."
But Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents health service managers, said the extra money was still not enough. Why many think it's not enough
He said "tough choices and trade offs" would not need to be made. Some will say the reaction of those in the health sector is to be expected - they are never satisfied they have enough money.
"It is difficult to see how the NHS can deliver everything," he added. But a look back at the funding history of the NHS shows they have a point.
And in a tweet Sir Bruce Keogh, medical director of NHS England, said the Budget funding plan for the service was "worrying". Traditionally the health budget has got an extra 4% a year above inflation to help it cope with the ageing population and cost of new drugs and treatments.
He said the chancellor's announcement plugged some but not all the gaps and that longer waits were "unavoidable". Since 2010 that figure has dropped to close to 1% - and this extra money does little to improve that.
Those working in accident and emergency units point out that the £350m for this winter could easily be swallowed up by spending on agency staff.
It is why those on the front line are still predicting rising waiting times for treatment.