BHF comment
BHF responds to Autumn Statement
Yesterday’s Autumn Statement saw spending on the NHS rightly prioritised, with the NHS facing unprecedented challenges. A long-term workforce strategy is desperately needed, but it must be fully-funded to tackle dangerous delays to emergency care and the cardiac care backlog sustainably.
Spiralling health emergency
This Autumn Statement saw NHS budgets protected and increased, an encouraging commitment that gives the NHS a fighting chance at meeting its recovery aspirations, including addressing the growing backlog of cardiac care.We welcome the pledge to publish a comprehensive NHS workforce plan next year, supported by independent projections of workforce need. This will not be deliverable without long-term funding, so it was disappointing that the Statement provided no ring-fenced funding for this purpose.
We also welcome commitments to publish NHS recovery strategies already in development, including in urgent and emergency care, which the BHF has helped shape. Heart patients are telling us that access to primary care and ambulance delays are key concerns for them, so these plans must be published and implemented as a matter of urgency.
Focus needed on prevention
The NHS cannot deliver improvements to cardiovascular health on its own. Alongside NHS spending, it is vital that the root causes of ill health, including high obesity rates and smoking, are addressed – we remain very concerned public health is not receiving the investment it badly needs.The Public Health Grant, which allows local authorities to fund vital preventative services like stop smoking support wasn’t mentioned in the statement. This is disappointing, as the programmes help reduce rates of preventable illness, and strengthen the nation’s resilience.
A greater focus on preventing ill health will support the Government’s wider aims by improving health outcomes, reducing health spending and putting the NHS on a better footing for the long-term. For example, it’s estimated that meeting the Government’s 2019 target of halving childhood obesity by 2030 would generate savings of over £37 billion for the NHS.
Additional steps towards creating a healthier environment were also missing in the statement - we’ve been calling for a “polluter pays levy” on tobacco to help raise funds for stop smoking support and wider tobacco control. A similar levy on salt and sugar could also help to encourage manufacturers to make our everyday foods healthier.
Increased research investment
We’re very pleased to see the Government reaffirm the UK’s ambitions to become a science superpower and match other leading scientific nations, with the £20 billion public R&D target remaining. This is a major boost for our world leading science and recognition of science in the Government’s growth agenda is welcome.
For every £1 invested in medical research, there’s a return equivalent to around 25p, every year, forever. Ambitious investment will be paid back with interest and benefit the patients of tomorrow.
Heart disease and stroke research is underfunded compared to their impact on society. To tackle and reduce these illnesses over the long-term and make future treatments and cures a reality, the Government should commit to help close this funding gap as part of its R&D investment plan.
Our comment
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, our Chief Executive, said: “It’s encouraging to see spending on the NHS prioritised in yesterday’s Autumn Statement. We all know the health service faces its toughest challenge yet and heart patients need reassurance that the NHS will be there for them when they need it most. A long-term workforce strategy is desperately needed and we’re pleased to hear about the Government’s plans. But it must be fully-funded if the NHS is to have a fighting chance at addressing dangerous delays to emergency care and an ever-growing backlog in a reasonable timeframe.
“Alongside NHS spending, it is also vital that we secure the health of the nation by researching cures for tomorrow’s patients, and we are pleased to see the Government recommit to ambitious R&D targets, which will also boost the UK’s aim of becoming a science superpower.”