RCN welcomes the Chancellor’s CSR announcement on Health – but every penny must reach the frontline.
Published: 09 October 2007
Responding to today’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), Dr. Peter Carter, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said:
“We welcome the fact that health has been prioritised in this year’s CSR and are pleased that, despite the lower economic growth forecast, the Chancellor has announced a 4% increase in health spending, bringing NHS spending up to £110 billion in real terms by 2010.
“However, this is still below the level of funding that the Wanless Report and the RCN have been calling for, which could have profound implications on the ability of the NHS to maintain the progress of recent years. So, we need to ensure that every penny of the new settlement is invested directly into frontline services, NHS staff and patient care.
“The next steps are crucial. The Government has told us how much they are willing to spend; now the real test is whether this money reaches frontline services. We look forward to working with government to make this a reality.”
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Notes to 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.