£570 billion for local NHS allocated

Local health services have been allocated £570 billion to fund NHS services and implement the new NHS Long Term Plan, with areas set to receive a cash increase of at least 17 per cent over the next five years.

The funding increase includes a minimum rise of 4.4 per cent next year, with NHS England confirming that £1 billion will be distributed according to the greatest need each year, with a redeveloped fairer funding formula channelling extra money to places with the highest rates of early death and unmet health needs.

As such, Blackpool and Bradford City, two of the areas with the worst rates for premature deaths, will receive increases of 11 per cent and 13 per cent respectively next year alone meaning they have £40 million and £26 million more to invest.

Simon Stevens, NHS England chief executive, said: “This funding backs delivery of the NHS long term plan in every part of England for the next five years. It will fund cutting edge treatments such as genome tests for every child with cancer, build up community services to provide more joined up care while taking pressure off hospitals and address the unmet need for mental health services.

“Tackling health inequalities in our society is not just about fairness but is a matter of hard-headed economics which will not only save lives but also save taxpayers’ money and NHS staff time. The public can be confident that the NHS will make every penny count, with data published by the Office for National Statistics showing productivity for health services in England grew by three per cent in 2016/17, over three times the growth for the wider UK economy in that year.”