Government urged to draw up long-term funding plan for the NHS

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has warned that the financial position of the NHS is "perilous" and urged ministers to devise a long-term funding strategy.

According to the body, the NHS is "very much in survival mode, with budgets unable to keep pace with demand".

Indeed, the PAC said trusts are forecasting a deficit of over GBP 900 million in 2017-18, which means that despite a rescue fund worth GBP 1.8 billion in 2016-17, the health service still has a "long way to go before it is financially sustainable".

Meg Hillier, chair of the PAC, insisted that rescue packages and budget transfers are "no substitute" for a coherent and properly funded strategy.

She has therefore called on ministers to create a long-term plan for the NHS and explain how it is approaching this task by July.

"Key to this will be securing a funding settlement from the Treasury that properly reflects current and anticipated demand for NHS services," Ms Hillier commented.

Ms Hillier added that the government should also move more quickly to identify successes in its piloting of new care models, so it can ensure best practice is shared for the benefit of patients nationwide.

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