NHS 'facing funding gap of up to £2bn' in England

The BBC reported that NHS England is set to face £2bn funding gap beginning on April 2015.

14:45 18 June 2014

Senior health sources have warned that due to growing costs, NHS England will face a £2bn funding gap in the next financial year. 

 

Factors to blame aside from increasing demand due to population growth are higher NHS pension costs. 

 

Chris Ham, chief executive of healthcare charity the King's Fund, said that some hospitals could run out of money. He said: “There is a real risk of that this year and particularly next year.” 

 

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is now involved in Whitehall talks to find solutions to the problem. 

 

The Department of Health, on the other hand, said there is nothing to worry about.  

 

In a statement, it said: "The NHS is on track to make £20bn savings… and we are confident that it will continue to make the savings necessary to meet rising demand."

 

In 2015/2016, a portion of the NHS budget will be directed to the Better Care Fund, intended to help the NHS and local councils provide more integrated health and social care. 

 

Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham claimed that the plan is worrying.  He said: "David Cameron is transferring large amounts of money out of the NHS to back-fill the hole he's created in social care finances. 

 

"I am worried that the fund will set back the cause of integration and get it a bad name - the policy should be put on hold pending a full parliamentary debate."