RCN: £1.7 billion NHS surplus must go straight to frontline services

Published: 04 March 2009

For immediate release: Wednesday 4 March 2009

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) today responded to news from the Department of Health predicting a surplus of £1.735 billion in the NHS.

Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing commented:

“While we are encouraged that the NHS is on a firm financial footing, it is imperative that this surplus is swiftly re-invested in frontline services. A £1.7 billion surplus is £1.7 billion which could have been spent on improving patient care, and the government must make clear what it plans to do with this money.

“It is particularly important that NHS spending is sustained through the economic downturn, and that funding intended for healthcare does not get diverted. During the downturn, we know that health can suffer and the NHS must be fit to deal with this.”

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Notes for Editors

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Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.