LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s budget watchdog on Tuesday outlined a gloomier picture for the government’s finances in the long term, reflecting recent pledges to increase health spending without tax hikes or spending cuts to pay for it. FILE PHOTO: Dawn breaks behind the Houses of Parliament and the statue of Winston Churchill in Westminster, London, Britain June 24, 2016. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth/File Photo The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) stuck to its view that the public finances are likely to come under significant pressure from an aging population. “The long-term outlook for the public finances is less favourable than at the time of our last (fiscal sustainability report) in January 2017,” the OBR said in its report. This was “more than explained” by the government’s health spending announcement in June. Last month Prime Minister Theresa May announced a 4 billion pound boost for the National Health Services, to be … [Read more...] about UK watchdog paints gloomier long-term picture for public finances
Institute for fiscal studies
Fewer children eligible for free school meals
0 Post a comment Thursday, 12 July 2018 - Local People by Contributed Nearly a quarter of the pupils in Devon who could claim free school meals five years ago are no longer eligible for them. Children can claim free school meals if their parents receive certain benefits. As the number of benefit claimants in England has dropped in recent years, thousands of children have lost their right to free meals at school lunchtimes.The Child Poverty Action Group warned that the drop risked leaving some children without their only hot meal of the day.Alison Garnham, the charity’s chief executive said: “At a time when more children are growing up in poverty, fewer are getting the help they need with free school meals. Out of a class of 30 kids, nine are growing up in poverty and six of these have working parents."When parents earn just above the threshold for a free meal children are at risk of losing what might be their only hot balanced meal of the day."School meals … [Read more...] about Fewer children eligible for free school meals
Hunt looks towards innovation in NHS for ‘best outcomes in Europe’
Hunt looks towards innovation in NHS for ‘best outcomes in Europe’ BelfastTelegraph.co.uk Plans for the future of the NHS should set out how England can have among the best health outcomes in Europe, Jeremy Hunt has said. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/hunt-looks-towards-innovation-in-nhs-for-best-outcomes-in-europe-37080543.html https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/article37080542.ece/1f8c5/AUTOCROP/h342/bpanews_1fe9ea07-1115-480f-830b-a7e72df87313_1 Email Plans for the future of the NHS should set out how England can have among the best health outcomes in Europe, Jeremy Hunt has said. Speaking at the NHS70 Parliamentary Awards, which have recognised the contribution of local health heroes, the Health and Social Care Secretary said plans for the future of the health service should also focus on medical innovation. On the eve of the NHS’s 70th anniversary, Mr Hunt praised the 1.7 million NHS staff across the whole of the UK. He singled out … [Read more...] about Hunt looks towards innovation in NHS for ‘best outcomes in Europe’
Calls for Theresa May to ‘make good’ on NHS funding promise and invest in technology
0 Have your say Creaking systems are going to let down the NHS if the technological future of the health service is not secured, leading think-tanks have warned. Calls are being made today for Theresa May to make good on her promise of investment in NHS technology – from earlier diagnoses to lifesaving apps and devices – in order to give patients the best possible care in future.Technology “has the potential to transform healthcare” if properly funded, the think-tanks said, just weeks after the Prime Minister’s speech on the future of the NHS, in which she outlined the field as central to her plans.'I'm a lucky boy': Sheffield man's praise for NHS after robot-assisted surgeryMrs May pledged that the NHS in England will get an extra £20bn a year in funding by 2023 as it prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary tomorrow. It comes as a landmark report, led by former Health Minister Lord Ara Darzi, suggested the NHS could free up time by … [Read more...] about Calls for Theresa May to ‘make good’ on NHS funding promise and invest in technology
Sunday shows round-up: NHS preparing for a no deal Brexit
Matthew Taylor 1 July 2018 5:20 PM 1 July 2018 5:20 PM Share Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Email Whatsapp Simon Stevens: the NHS is making ‘significant preparations’ for no deal Brexit This morning Andrew Marr sat down for an interview with the Chief Executive of NHS England. With the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the NHS approaching this week, Marr asked Simon Stevens about the implications of a no deal Brexit on the health service, and whether he was making appropriate preparations for such an event: “There is now significant planning going on around all the scenarios," says @NHSEngland Boss Simon Stevens, including a no-deal scenario to ensure that medical supplies are not disrupted #marr pic.twitter.com/Io5yPctoX8 — The Andrew Marr Show (@MarrShow) July 1, 2018 AM: …When you were talking to MPs last autumn, you said that you hadn’t been asked by government to plan for no deal. Has that changed? SS: There is now … [Read more...] about Sunday shows round-up: NHS preparing for a no deal Brexit