Today, the NHS Long Term Plan Funding Bill has been introduced to Parliament by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, one of the first pieces of domestic legislation to be introduced in the New Year.
The Bill will ensure that a legal duty is placed on the government, enshrining in law a minimum spend of £33.9 billion a year by 2024, the largest, longest funding settlement in NHS history. The Bill will not decide how the funding is spent which is still the responsibility of local clinicians.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“I have heard loud and clear that the priority of the British people is the NHS.
“Guaranteeing frontline services the biggest cash boost in history is another huge step towards making sure this treasured institution has everything it needs to deliver world-class care.
“There can be no doubting our commitment to the NHS. Putting our record funding commitment into law shows that we will stop at nothing to deliver on the people’s priorities.”
Other recent pledges include, building 40 new hospitals, 20 hospital upgrades, an extra £1.8 billion for capital spending and £450 million for new scanners and the latest in AI technology, in which the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth will receive three mammography units and replace two CT scanners. The Queen Alexandra has also been successful in a bid for £58.2 million for a new A&E Department after lobbying by Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage and the Chief Executive of Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust Mark Cubbon.
Caroline commented:
“Today is a clear message that the new Conservative Government is going to deliver on its manifesto promises, placing the NHS at the top of our domestic agenda. The Bill will ensure that the NHS gets a minimum cash boost of £33.9 billion a year by 2024, the largest in NHS history, to improve and create a stronger NHS.
“But our pressured NHS service is not just in need of cash. This funding will go to ensuring that the NHS has a sustainable, long term future that provides the best possible care for our families and loved ones, including looking into prevention, improved cancer detection and community health services.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:
“During the election campaign, we committed to boosting funding for our NHS over the course of the Parliament and ensuring these new resources get to the frontline so that patients receive the care they need.
“Today we are making good on that manifesto commitment by introducing the NHS Funding Bill, demonstrating this government’s ironclad commitment to the NHS.
“With this unprecedented bill, we will enshrine in law the largest cash settlement in NHS history – bringing the total annual budget to almost £150 billion within 5 years.
“This funding bill will empower the NHS and its world-class clinicians to deliver our bold plan for the NHS. They can do so safe in the knowledge this government is giving them the financial certainty and support to revolutionise prevention, detection, and treatment of thousands of patients over the coming decade.”
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sajid Javid, said:
“We are delivering on our promise to focus on the people’s priorities, with the NHS at the forefront. By enshrining the largest ever cash increase for the NHS in law, we will deliver a world-class health service that makes life in this country even better for people.”