While headlines about a meltdown in the NHS are eerily similar to the 1990s, it would wrong to think a Labour government will turn the spending taps on again.
Kicking off Health & Protection‘s second annual Health Summit at Tylney Hall in Hampshire this afternoon, Stephen Rocks (pictured), economist at the Health Foundation’s Real Centre, told delegates recent headlines about consultants worrying that the NHS will only treat emergencies in winter and was heading for financial meltdown were similar to headlines from the 1990s about the NHS being in financial crisis and how a cash crisis was putting the brakes on surgery.
“In some respects we might think we’re back in the 1990s,” Rocks told delegates. “In fact we might anticipate we’re going to have a different government who will come in if there’s an election this year and that government is going to turn on the spending taps again and we will go into recovery again.”
But Rocks added there were reasons to be cautious about thinking a Labour government would resume spending on the NHS.
“The current picture across public finances is very, very challenging. There’s a range of other services that are asking for money,” Rocks explained. “The economic outlook is relatively week.
“The shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has said repeatedly gearing up for an election campaign that reform is more important than pouring money in.
“So I don’t think at the moment the Labour Party’s keen to suggest that it will be turning on the taps should it form the next government.
“And certainly current plans under this government are a very tight picture for public health.”