NHS report demonstrates improvement in key standards

The government has published the second official report on NHS performance of the financial year, showing progress towards efficiency and care quality goals.

According to the figures, primary care trusts estimate that they are on track to deliver savings of 5.9 billion pounds for the full fiscal year, meaning the health service is progressing towards its 20 billion pound saving target by 2015.

Moreover, standards were shown to have been maintained or improved across all of the eight key quality areas highlighted, with particularly strong performance seen in terms of reducing MRSA and C difficile infections, as well as mixed sex accommodation breaches.

However, the report also highlighted particular trusts that are falling below expectation in terms of waiting times, with crackdowns set to take place to ensure this does not persist.

Health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Where the NHS can do things better and save money to reinvest in patient care, it must do so."

This comes after a new 91.6 billion pound funding allocation for NHS care was unveiled for 2012/13, representing a 2.8 percent increase in total allocations and a real-terms rise in health spending.