Henry Smith MP has welcomed the announcement from the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Theresa May MP, of an additional £20.5 billion a year for the NHS.
In a speech on Monday, plans were outlined to develop a long-term plan for the future of the health service, underpinned by an offer which will see the NHS budget increase by £20.5 billion in real terms by 2023-24.
This equates to nearly £394 million a week by 2023-24, and will support the NHS to make the right decisions for the long-term, setting it on a sustainable path to continue delivering world class care. The funding will result in average annual increases of 3.4 per cent for the NHS.
The Crawley MP has continued to raise the issue of local health services in Parliament. On Monday (18th June) in the House of Commons following the Health & Social Care Secretary’s statement to MPs, Henry sought assurances that the additional spending on the NHS will follow through with the return of further local services at sites such as Crawley Hospital.
This followed a Westminster Hall debate which Henry secured and led earlier in the year on NHS blood cancer care.
Henry said;
“The NHS has been there for us whenever we need it for 70 years, and this historic funding announcement is a fitting birthday present for our world-renowned health service.
“This additional £20.5 billion will benefit services up and down the country such as Crawley Hospital. The provision of a multi-year funding settlement gives the NHS the opportunity and certainty to develop a long-term plan for areas including staffing, prevention, and technology.
“A long-term plan will ensure the NHS is fit to support us for the next 70 years and beyond. It will be led by professionals, with input from the public and patients, and set out a sustainable and efficient vision for our health service.”
In return for this investment, the Government will ask NHS leaders to produce a new ten-year plan, led by clinicians and professionals, and supported by local health and care systems across the country. The plan will set out a long-term vision for the health service and ensure every penny is well spent, while waste and inefficiencies are reduced.
Some of the extra funding will come from money no longer spent on Britain’s annual membership subscription to the European Union, and taxpayers will be asked to contribute a bit more for the NHS in a fair and balanced way.
The Secretary of State for Health & Social Care, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, commented;
“No one in this country underestimates the importance of putting the NHS on a steady financial footing, which is why I am proud to announce our commitment to a long-term funding settlement for the NHS.
“People will, rightly, want to know that every pound being invested into the NHS budget will be spent wisely. It is therefore critical that the whole NHS improves productivity and efficiency as part of this plan. In its 70th year, we want our NHS to make strides towards being the safest, highest-quality healthcare system in the world.”
Follow Henry daily via:
www.twitter.com/HenrySmithUK
www.facebook.com/HenrySmith4Crawley
www.youtube.com/HenrySmithMP
