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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Spending Review: NHS facing squeeze despite budget rise | Spending Review: NHS facing squeeze despite budget rise |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| By Nick Triggle Health reporter, BBC News | By Nick Triggle Health reporter, BBC News |
| NHS staff are braced for job losses - despite the government's pledge to increase the £103bn budget for England. | |
| Historically, health spending has gone up by over 4% in real terms so unions say a small rise will feel like a cut. | Historically, health spending has gone up by over 4% in real terms so unions say a small rise will feel like a cut. |
| This is because demands from factors such as the ageing population, obesity and the cost of new drugs mean about an extra 3% is needed just to stand still. | This is because demands from factors such as the ageing population, obesity and the cost of new drugs mean about an extra 3% is needed just to stand still. |
| In preparation, the NHS has been asked to find large efficiency savings over the coming years. | In preparation, the NHS has been asked to find large efficiency savings over the coming years. |
| The previous government set a target of between £15bn and £20bn by 2014 - which means finding nearly 5% of savings a year. | The previous government set a target of between £15bn and £20bn by 2014 - which means finding nearly 5% of savings a year. |
| This target has been kept in place by the coalition despite its promise to increase the health budget in this parliament from April - the details of which will be given in the Spending Review. | This target has been kept in place by the coalition despite its promise to increase the health budget in this parliament from April - the details of which will be given in the Spending Review. |
| 'Financial pressures' | 'Financial pressures' |
| While ministers say all savings from the efficiency drive will be reinvested into the NHS, unions have claimed "slash and burn" approaches are being taken. | While ministers say all savings from the efficiency drive will be reinvested into the NHS, unions have claimed "slash and burn" approaches are being taken. |
| The Royal College of Nursing estimates more than 10,000 posts have closed in recent months and said if this trend continues patient care will be hit. | The Royal College of Nursing estimates more than 10,000 posts have closed in recent months and said if this trend continues patient care will be hit. |
| There have already been reports of hospitals closing wards and restricting access to minor operations, while fears have been voiced that waiting lists could rise in the future. | There have already been reports of hospitals closing wards and restricting access to minor operations, while fears have been voiced that waiting lists could rise in the future. |
| Nigel Edwards, of the NHS Confederation, which represents managers, said: "The public need to go into this with their eyes wide open. | Nigel Edwards, of the NHS Confederation, which represents managers, said: "The public need to go into this with their eyes wide open. |
| "The NHS may have some limited protection to its budget but it still faces a potent cocktail of financial pressures." | "The NHS may have some limited protection to its budget but it still faces a potent cocktail of financial pressures." |
| Other parts of the UK will have to wait longer to find out about health spending with final decisions not expected until later this year. | Other parts of the UK will have to wait longer to find out about health spending with final decisions not expected until later this year. |
| Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have talked about protecting parts of the NHS budget, although they have not been as categorical as their counterparts in England. | Ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have talked about protecting parts of the NHS budget, although they have not been as categorical as their counterparts in England. |