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Commenting on the Autumn Budget, Siva Anandaciva, Chief Analyst at The King’s Fund, said: 

‘This Budget has been delivered among a backdrop of dire NHS performance and extremely tight public finances.

'The Chancellor has said that ‘change must be felt’, but the health spending announced today is unlikely to be enough for patients to see a real improvement in the care they receive. The 3.8% real-terms uplift over two years to the Department of Health and Social Care budget will help sustain services but is unlikely to drastically improve care over the rest of this year, and certainly not overnight. That’s because the £22 billion for two years allocated for day-to-day spending will also need to cover existing commitments for new staff pay deals and rising costs of delivering care. 

‘The increases to capital investment in NHS buildings and equipment announced today will go some way towards reducing the waiting list in coming years, by increasing the number of hospital beds and surgical hubs in the NHS. However, the existing backlog of NHS maintenance issues with buildings and equipment is a staggering £13.8 billion and the extra funding announced today will only be a modest down payment on what is needed to tackle unsafe and outdated NHS facilities.  

‘The additional £600 million announced for social care will be welcomed by the sector but is substantially less than what has been allocated to the NHS – many social care leaders will look on with envy at the funding their health service colleagues have received. Care providers will also have to shoulder extra employer costs from national insurance changes and minimum wage increases, exacerbating the difficult financial position they are in.   

‘It is positive to see the government using its fiscal and regulatory tools to help improve the nation’s health, including increases to tobacco duties and the soft drinks levy. But the government has chosen to provide little clarity on overall budgets to support public health services.  

‘On the whole, this budget has been a starting point for the investment and reform that is needed to begin to stabilise the trajectory of NHS performance, but it is not enough for the system to deliver the wholesale shift needed for a health and care system fit for the future. To achieve that, more funding will be needed in next year’s Comprehensive Spending review.’ 

Notes to editors

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The King's Fund is an independent charity working to improve health and care in England. We help to shape policy and practice through research and analysis; develop individuals, teams and organisations; promote understanding of the health and social care system; and bring people together to learn, share knowledge and debate. Our vision is that the best possible health and care is available to all. 

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