Numerous charities and leading medical groups have warned that the NHS is at “breaking point”.  A letter composed by the leaders of these organisations was released over the weekend, highlighting the vast number of problems that need to be fixed in order for the NHS to be saved from it “buckling under the twin crises of rising demand and flat-lining budgets”.

The letter highlighted that patient care and staff morale are two key areas being consistently neglected by the NHS.  Within these two core zones for improvement, patients are struggling to get appointments; patients are waiting far longer than they have before to find out whether or not they have cancer; families are “crippled” with the rising costs of social care; and women are receiving inadequate maternity care as a result of increased pressure.  The letter stated: “things cannot go on like this”.

Most destructive budget squeeze ever endured

The document did praise the coalition government in having managed to maintain the health budget in “an era of unprecedented austerity”, but said that the annual increases to the health budget will result in the most destructive budget squeeze it has ever had to endure.  It was stressed that by 2020, the NHS deficit will stand at £30bn – a funding gap that must in some way be filled.

The letter has called for “a comprehensive, fully-posted, long-term spending plan” to be drawn up in order to save the health service for future generations.

If you have been affected by medical negligence, and are looking to claim compensation, please contact us.