NHS demands £8bn funding boost

NHS England has set out its vision of the future of the NHS with calls for a radical shake up of how care is currently provided across the country.

Made up of fewer than 40 pages, the ‘Five Year Forward View’ is Simon Stevens’ first major report since he took over as NHS England’s Chief Executive in April 2014.

The report calls for a transformation of current care models into a system that gives GP practices and hospitals the flexibility to offer tailored services to local communities.  

Recommended changes include allowing GP practices to join forces into single organisations that provide a broader range of services, including those traditionally provided in hospital.

The report also suggests creating new organisations that provide GP and hospital services together with mental health, community and social care.

In an effort to improve patients’ quality of life and reduce hospital bed use, the ‘Forward View’ proposes providing more health and rehabilitation services in care homes.

However, all of this change requires funding – and much more than the current government has ringfenced for the NHS in the next five years.

Simon Stevens has appealed for a funding boost from just under £100 billion this year to around £120 billion by the end of the next parliament, or, to put it more simply, an extra £8 billion on top of planned increases in line with inflation.

“It is perfectly possible to improve and sustain the NHS over the next five years in a way that the public and patients want. But to secure the future that we know is possible, the NHS needs to change substantially, and we need the support of future governments and other partners to do so,” he said.

The report shows how delivering on its proposed changes, combined with the additional funding and improved efficiency could feasibly close the £30 billion funding gap by 2020.

Developed by six NHS groups including Monitor, Public Health England and the CQC, alongside patient groups and clinicians, the ‘Five Year Forward View’ also outlines actions that need to be taken to sustain the NHS.

One of these proposals is to compensate people who volunteer in hospitals or care for the elderly in their own homes with discounts on their council tax, for example.

Another recommended restructure involves setting up GP surgeries in hospitals to prevent elderly people being unnecessarily admitted to hospital and improve access to doctors.

Katherine Murphy, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, said the organisation welcomes the five-year plan and joined Simon Stevens in appealing to the next government to take note of its advice:

“The NHS must be an organisation that works with patients and their families to ensure that the patient is at the centre of everything that the NHS does – no more platitudes please. We must put a stop to the focus on targets and finances.

“All our energies must be on delivering high quality, safe and compassionate care for and with patients. Our plea to the Government, whoever they are – please listen to these plans and sign up to this vision - patients and the public deserve no less.”