RCN response to Nuffield Trust report on NHS finances

Published: 03 December 2012

The Royal College of Nursing today (3 December) responded to the Nuffield Trust report on NHS finances. Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the RCN, said:
 
“This is a worrying report and echoes many of our own concerns about the future of the NHS. Even though we are only two years into the drive for efficiency savings, there are already huge cuts to jobs and services, with tens of thousands of NHS posts axed or set to go. Nurses are currently working hard to find the £20bn in savings on the basis that it will be reinvested back into frontline care. Sadly, there is no evidence this is happening.  We need to see evidence that these savings are being reinvested back into vital services, for example in community provision, that would ultimately improve patient care.

“We agree that there needs to be a focus on improving quality and performance and we believe that intelligent service redesign is one of the keys to addressing the huge challenges the NHS faces. Equally, there is no substitute for having the right number of staff with the right skills in hospitals and care homes.

“It is heartening that the public appreciates the value of the health service. The NHS should remain free at the point of delivery and based on clinical need, not the ability to pay. Our fear is that given the challenges facing the health service, the quality of patient care will continue to suffer and that financial considerations may override patient care.”

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Notes for Editors
 
1.     For further information, please contact the RCN Media Office on 020 7647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit  http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/media
 
2.     The 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 nursing staff 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.