Health leaders have called for more investment ahead of the upcoming Spending Review. A recent analysis from the Health Foundation, looking at proposed priorities for the 2025 Spring Spending Review, has recommended that the Government should invest more into prevention and adult social care. The analysis called for the investment to be granted in the real-terms equivalent of ‘2015/16 levels per person’.
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‘Publicly funded adult social care is facing rising demand and increased costs, resulting in people going without the care they need and added pressure on unpaid carers, local authority budgets and the NHS,’ the analysis stated. ‘Just to meet demand and rising provider costs would need an extra £3.4bn by 2028/29; to improve access as well, this sum could be an additional £6.4bn. Further investment would be needed to meet any future pay agreements.’
Proponents argue that Increased funding of social care represents an investment into prevention. Organisations such as the NHS Confederation have claimed that cuts to local governments and social welfare systems have worsened health inequalities. This in turn leads to longer hospital waiting list and increased financial pressures.
‘NHS leaders know from bitter experience that protecting NHS funding while cutting other areas ends up costing more in the long run,’ said Rory Deighton, Acute Director of the NHS Confederation. ‘Studies have shown that 80% of our health is shaped by factors such as education, employment and housing. But in recent years, real terms cuts to local government funding for public health and social care have pushed up demand for healthcare and worsened NHS finances and waiting times. A mission-driven Spending Review needs to consider all these factors if the Government wants the NHS back on its feet.’