Ministers blamed for NHS deficits
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.In a stinging attack on government incompetence, a Labour-led committee of MPs said the Department of Health must share the blame for the poor management that has led to record deficits in the NHS.
Some hospitals would be in debt for more than five years, the Health Select Committee warned. The MPs said the NHS, "has veered from one priority to the next as the political focus has changed." They added that the Government's estimated costs of its Agenda for Change reforms and the new GP and consultant contracts were "hopelessly unrealistic".
The MPs say many of the biggest deficits, "are associated with the extraordinary growth in staff costs arising from pay rises and the large increase in staff numbers.
"The pay rises have far exceeded the Department's estimates and the numbers of new staff are far higher even than the figures proposed in the NHS Plan."
Their report says the growth in staff costs, "points to serious underlying failures in the financial management of the NHS, which have occurred at all levels of the organisation, from the Department of Health to primary care trusts".
The MPs also accuse the Government of "concentrating on targets with too little concern for finance".
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
0Comments