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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Growth in health spending slows | Growth in health spending slows |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The rate of growth in NHS spending in England will slow over the next three years to 4% a year over the rate of inflation. | The rate of growth in NHS spending in England will slow over the next three years to 4% a year over the rate of inflation. |
| This will mean the budget will rise from £90bn this year to £110bn in 2010. | This will mean the budget will rise from £90bn this year to £110bn in 2010. |
| Chancellor Alistair Darling said cash would fund 20 new hospitals, 140 new walk-in centres open seven days a week, and 100 new GP practices. | Chancellor Alistair Darling said cash would fund 20 new hospitals, 140 new walk-in centres open seven days a week, and 100 new GP practices. |
| However, since 2002, the health service has enjoyed record yearly rises of over 7% after inflation. | However, since 2002, the health service has enjoyed record yearly rises of over 7% after inflation. |
| The NHS has done well compared with other departments Niall DicksonKing's Fund | The NHS has done well compared with other departments Niall DicksonKing's Fund |
| And the new increases fall short of those recommended by former banker Sir Derek Wanless in his review of the future of the NHS. | And the new increases fall short of those recommended by former banker Sir Derek Wanless in his review of the future of the NHS. |
| He recommended real terms growth in the NHS budget of at least 4.4% for the four years from April 2008. | He recommended real terms growth in the NHS budget of at least 4.4% for the four years from April 2008. |
| Productivity boost needed | Productivity boost needed |
| The independent think tank the King's Fund said the onus would now be on the NHS to improve productivity, and make progress in tackling unhealthy lifestyles. | The independent think tank the King's Fund said the onus would now be on the NHS to improve productivity, and make progress in tackling unhealthy lifestyles. |
| Niall Dickson, the chief executive, said: "Reducing the annual real growth from what it has been over the last seven years will feel like a cut. | Niall Dickson, the chief executive, said: "Reducing the annual real growth from what it has been over the last seven years will feel like a cut. |
| "However, in a fiscally tight spending review, the NHS has done well compared with other departments. | "However, in a fiscally tight spending review, the NHS has done well compared with other departments. |
| "A slow-down in the growth of funding should not damage patient care and the delivery of better services as the NHS has been planning for this slow down." | "A slow-down in the growth of funding should not damage patient care and the delivery of better services as the NHS has been planning for this slow down." |
| READ THE REPORT Pre-Budget Report and Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 in full [1.5MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here See documents and speech in full | READ THE REPORT Pre-Budget Report and Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 in full [1.5MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here See documents and speech in full |
| Professor John Appleby, the King's Fund's finance expert, said the new figures included around £1.8bn which had been clawed back this year after trusts failed to spend it on capital projects. | Professor John Appleby, the King's Fund's finance expert, said the new figures included around £1.8bn which had been clawed back this year after trusts failed to spend it on capital projects. |
| Once this figure was taken into account the average rate of growth was closer to 3.1% a year over three years. | Once this figure was taken into account the average rate of growth was closer to 3.1% a year over three years. |
| Doctors response | |
| Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of British Medical Association, said it was vital funds were not squandered on "costly and poor value" deals with the private sector. | |
| "The government has indicated its wish for greater clinical engagement in the NHS and we will be seeking a constructive dialogue to ensure that doctors have the freedom to innovate and develop their services, based on sound clinical evidence, that will truly benefit patients." | |
| Nigel Edwards, of the NHS Confederation, said the NHS was now well placed to face a "challenging financial future and continue to improve the service for patients". | Nigel Edwards, of the NHS Confederation, said the NHS was now well placed to face a "challenging financial future and continue to improve the service for patients". |
| Dave Prentis, general secretary of the health workers' union Unison, said: "We are glad that the Chancellor has not lost his nerve and slammed the brakes on public service investment. | Dave Prentis, general secretary of the health workers' union Unison, said: "We are glad that the Chancellor has not lost his nerve and slammed the brakes on public service investment. |
| "The additional funds for the NHS will help see through health modernisation plans and prevent a return to the financial deficits dogging many health trusts in the recent past." | "The additional funds for the NHS will help see through health modernisation plans and prevent a return to the financial deficits dogging many health trusts in the recent past." |
| The period of record investment which ends this year saw the NHS budget grow annually by more than twice the average rate of the previous three decades prior to 1997. | The period of record investment which ends this year saw the NHS budget grow annually by more than twice the average rate of the previous three decades prior to 1997. |
| This lifted spending on the NHS close to the European average, as promised by former Prime Minister Tony Blair. | This lifted spending on the NHS close to the European average, as promised by former Prime Minister Tony Blair. |
| However, structural change, and big pay rises for doctors accounted for a big slice of the cash, and left the health service in deficit before it managed to balance the books in the last financial year. | However, structural change, and big pay rises for doctors accounted for a big slice of the cash, and left the health service in deficit before it managed to balance the books in the last financial year. |