NHS money wasted through permanent revolution (Andrew Simpson)

NHS money wasted through permanent revolution

August 14, 2006 1:00 PM

24% of operating time has lost due to excessive delays

A recently released report by Civitas on NHS spending has revealed that despite cash injections of billions of extra pounds, productivity has actually decreased under this government.

Despite an increase in total public spending in England from £44.9bn in the first year of the NHS Plan (2000-01) to £76.4bn five years later (2005-06)(1), service delivery has not kept pace.

Day surgery has decreased in the UK from 73.9 cases per 1,000 in 2000 to 72.7 in 2005, while productivity is thought to be somewhere between an increase of 0.2% per annum or a decrease of 0.5% between 1999 and 2004.

Commenting on the report, Andrew Simpson said: "Between 2000 and 2005 14% of planned day surgery operating sessions were cancelled and 24% of operating time was lost due to delays or excessive gaps between operations.

"Whilst I welcome the government's extra investment, the Government's culture of permanent revolution has led to millions of pounds being squandered.

Steve Webb MP, Lib Dem Shadow Health Secretary reacted to the news saying: "Patients feel let down that despite vastly increased investment, productivity has stagnated and financial volatility is affecting services.

"A period of stability is what is needed to allow planning on the basis of long-term improvements in efficiency and not short-term crisis management."

To read more about Lib Dem health policies go to: http://www.libdems.org.uk/health/

Notes:

(1) Figures available from Citivas: http://www.civitas.org.uk/press/NHSBriefAug06.php