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‘Need virtuous circle in health and social care not a vicious cycle’ says RCM on new NHS funding report

By RCM on 24 May 2018 NHS Funding Midwife Shortage Health and social care Public Health

A report on NHS funding has been published today by Health Foundation and the Institute for Fiscal Studies in association with NHS Confederation. The report says that UK health spending will need to increase by £95bn by 2033/34, rising from 7.3% of national income this year to 8.9% of national income, to maintain current service levels: increases of 3.3% a year.

Commenting on the report, Jon Skewes, Director for Policy, Employment Relations and Communications, said: “This report shows starkly why our NHS including maternity services have been struggling so much over recent years to provide safe and high quality care.

“Demand on the NHS and its maternity services is increasing yet funding for it as this shows, has not been enough to meet that demand.

“We have recently had a commitment from the Government to fund more midwifery training places. That is very, very welcome after over a decade of midwife shortages. But that is only half of a solution and the NHS needs enough money to be able to employ these new midwives when they qualify.

“We also need to see investment in public health to prevent illness in the first place. Social care also needs adequate funding because without good social care the efforts of the NHS can often be wasted. We need a virtuous circle in health and social care not a vicious cycle where poor care in one area can impact on the other.”

The report from the Health Foundation and the Institute for Fiscal Studies in association with NHS Confederation can be read at https://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/12994?dm_i=4Y2,5NUG7,LDHAH6,M1BG5,1.

To contact the RCM Media Office call 020 7312 3456, or email media@rcm.org.uk.

Note to editors

The RCM is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. We provide workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance and information, and learning opportunities with our broad range of events, conferences and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website at https://www.rcm.org.uk/.

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