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| NHS funding crisis: Boss warns of £75-a-night charge for a hospital bed | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The NHS may have to start charging patients for the “hotel costs” of their hospital stay if the health service’s looming financial crisis is not addressed, senior health service managers have warned. | The NHS may have to start charging patients for the “hotel costs” of their hospital stay if the health service’s looming financial crisis is not addressed, senior health service managers have warned. |
| Hospital bosses will need to “think the unthinkable” if future NHS funding fails to keep up with patient demand, said Rob Webster, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which speaks on behalf of all health service commissioners and providers. | Hospital bosses will need to “think the unthinkable” if future NHS funding fails to keep up with patient demand, said Rob Webster, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which speaks on behalf of all health service commissioners and providers. |
| “If the NHS cannot afford to fund everything, then it will need to make tough choices about what it does fund,” he told The Independent. | “If the NHS cannot afford to fund everything, then it will need to make tough choices about what it does fund,” he told The Independent. |
| “Do we think about increasing our tolerance for longer wait [for care], or do we say ‘NHS funding is only for the health aspects of care and treatment’, which means patients being asked to cover their hotel costs for bed and board?” NHS managers may also have to raise the thresholds at which some minor conditions are considered for surgery, Mr Webster added. | “Do we think about increasing our tolerance for longer wait [for care], or do we say ‘NHS funding is only for the health aspects of care and treatment’, which means patients being asked to cover their hotel costs for bed and board?” NHS managers may also have to raise the thresholds at which some minor conditions are considered for surgery, Mr Webster added. |
| Although detailed plans on charging patients for “bed and board” have not been drawn up, another senior NHS source suggested the fees could be means-tested, and set at around £75 per night. | Although detailed plans on charging patients for “bed and board” have not been drawn up, another senior NHS source suggested the fees could be means-tested, and set at around £75 per night. |
| Any such move would mark a major departure from the founding principles of the NHS, and would likely require authorisation from the Department of Health. However, Mr Webster said, if funding did not keep up with patient demand, “unpalatable” changes would be unavoidable. | Any such move would mark a major departure from the founding principles of the NHS, and would likely require authorisation from the Department of Health. However, Mr Webster said, if funding did not keep up with patient demand, “unpalatable” changes would be unavoidable. |
| The warnings come as The Independent continues its week-long investigation into the parlous state of the health service’s finances with an in-depth look at over-stretched GP surgeries. | The warnings come as The Independent continues its week-long investigation into the parlous state of the health service’s finances with an in-depth look at over-stretched GP surgeries. |
| Health service managers expect the NHS to go into deficit either this year or next, as patient demand begins to outstrip funding following years of flat health spending. | Health service managers expect the NHS to go into deficit either this year or next, as patient demand begins to outstrip funding following years of flat health spending. |
| The NHS Confederation has said a “transformation fund” of at least £2bn per year for two years is needed to enable the NHS to maintain current levels of service. | The NHS Confederation has said a “transformation fund” of at least £2bn per year for two years is needed to enable the NHS to maintain current levels of service. |
| Mr Webster said that some of the measures the NHS might have to take would be unpopular. “Overall funding allocation for health and social care is a political choice,” he said. “Flat funding in real terms is a choice. Funding that doesn’t match increases in demand is a choice. One-off ‘lumps’ of money, which get newspaper headlines but don’t allow health service leaders to plan effectively, are a choice. The consequences of these choices are what NHS Confederation members all over the country manage every day of the year.” | Mr Webster said that some of the measures the NHS might have to take would be unpopular. “Overall funding allocation for health and social care is a political choice,” he said. “Flat funding in real terms is a choice. Funding that doesn’t match increases in demand is a choice. One-off ‘lumps’ of money, which get newspaper headlines but don’t allow health service leaders to plan effectively, are a choice. The consequences of these choices are what NHS Confederation members all over the country manage every day of the year.” |
| Another senior NHS source said that failing to significantly increase NHS funding would force the health service to “do things we have never done before”. | Another senior NHS source said that failing to significantly increase NHS funding would force the health service to “do things we have never done before”. |
| “You would get into a position where you were doing anything that you can that reduces cost, that brings in money, where you can justifiably say: ‘this isn’t paying for healthcare’. | “You would get into a position where you were doing anything that you can that reduces cost, that brings in money, where you can justifiably say: ‘this isn’t paying for healthcare’. |
| “Do we say to reasonably well-off people: ‘your healthcare is free, but we are going to charge you £75 per night board and lodging’?” | “Do we say to reasonably well-off people: ‘your healthcare is free, but we are going to charge you £75 per night board and lodging’?” |
| NHS bosses are also understood to be considering letting waiting lists increase further, which could see a return to routine one-year waits for procedures like hip and knee operations. | NHS bosses are also understood to be considering letting waiting lists increase further, which could see a return to routine one-year waits for procedures like hip and knee operations. |
| This would allow surgeons to prioritise patients with urgent needs, while also releasing pressure by driving wealthier patients into seeking private treatment. | This would allow surgeons to prioritise patients with urgent needs, while also releasing pressure by driving wealthier patients into seeking private treatment. |
| All three political parties have pledged to protect or increase NHS spending in the next parliament, but there is a consensus among health experts that none of the pledges go far enough to fill a looming £30bn deficit in the NHS’ finances. | All three political parties have pledged to protect or increase NHS spending in the next parliament, but there is a consensus among health experts that none of the pledges go far enough to fill a looming £30bn deficit in the NHS’ finances. |
| Richard Taunt, director of policy at the Health Foundation think tank, said that the example of other European countries – including Ireland, Spain and Portugal - which had to dramatically cut their health budget included “some pretty unsavoury stuff” including pay cuts for staff and significant increases in charges for medicines. | Richard Taunt, director of policy at the Health Foundation think tank, said that the example of other European countries – including Ireland, Spain and Portugal - which had to dramatically cut their health budget included “some pretty unsavoury stuff” including pay cuts for staff and significant increases in charges for medicines. |
| A Department of Health spokesman said: "The NHS will remain free at the point of use. We know that with an ageing population there's more pressure on the NHS, which is why we’ve increased the budget by £12.7bn over this Parliament and are investing in community services to keep people living healthier at home for longer.” | A Department of Health spokesman said: "The NHS will remain free at the point of use. We know that with an ageing population there's more pressure on the NHS, which is why we’ve increased the budget by £12.7bn over this Parliament and are investing in community services to keep people living healthier at home for longer.” |
| A spokesman further added: “These proposals are not under consideration.” | A spokesman further added: “These proposals are not under consideration.” |