NHS funding 'not producing first class system'
Tuesday, 11 Sep 2007 09:28
Record investment was made in the NHS from 2002
Health In Focus
Another nail in the coffin for smokers? Catch out exclusive webchat to find out... Full Story
Heavy investment in the NHS during the past five years has not resulted in the UK being on track to have a world class health service, a former Treasury adviser claims.
Sir Derek Wanless' report to the Treasury in 2002 contributed to the 50 per cent real terms increases in NHS spending.
In a review published today by the King's Fund thinktank, Sir Derek said that the extra investment has resulted in notable improvements including more staff and equipment, reduced waiting times and better access to care.
But he also warns that additional funding has not improved productivity to levels expected in the 2002 review.
Largest increases in hospital activity have been seen in emergency, rather than elective, care, which Sir Derek argues raises concerns about how demand is being managed across the health service.
Progress on lifestyle changes has been slower than anticipated; in particular there has been a dramatic rise in the number of obese adults and children in the UK.
"We are not on course to deliver the sustainable and world class health care system, and ultimately the healthier nation, that we all desire," Sir Derek said.
"Without significant improvements in NHS productivity, and much greater efforts to tackle obesity in particular, even higher levels of funding will be needed over the next two decades to deliver the comprehensive, high-quality services envisaged by my original review."
He added that a hugely expensive health service that is not first class could undermine political support for the NHS and raise questions about its future.
To improve the situation there is no need to "change tack", Sir Derek said, as the direction of the government health policy is "the right one".
Instead he calls for areas of policy weakness to be improved, including targeting productivity and reducing unhealthy lifestyles.
Commenting on the report, King's Fund chief executive Niall Dickson said: "The government pledged to catch up with other EU countries after decades of under-investment - this has been achieved.
"But if the NHS is not only to catch up but keep up with other European health care systems then we need to find new ways of making the health system more productive with better clinical outcomes - the alternative is to face the prospect of a second rate service."