Keep Our NHS Public’s reply to the Boris Johnson election propaganda misinformation bandwagon.
Thirty four out of the ‘40 new hospitals’ announced by BorisJohnson in time for the Tory Party conference today, are in fact EXISTING hospitals which are being given only £100m BETWEEN THEM for repairs. So Johnson and Health Minister Hancock are caught lying again. In fact there is a £6bn deficit in new building, repairs and equipment. The NHS has only a SEVENTH of the funds necessary to bring the provision of scanners up to the EU average level!
The misleading promise of a ‘capital injection’ has to be set against the current £6bn deficit. Even then, the money is over 5-10 YEARS. Coming in two waves (ripples compared to what is needed), £2.7bn is said to rebuild six hospitals by 2025 NOT NEW hospitals; and £100m in ‘seed funding’ (you can say that again) over TEN YEARS to repair and refurbish the other 34 hospitals by 2030
Boris Johnson’s party has stripped the NHS of funding for nearly 10 years – by over 25% – there is now over £30bn shortfall in annual funding.
That is why we are short of: 100,000 nurses, 10,000 hospital doctors, over 5,000 GP doctors and why 15,000 beds cut have waiting lists at 4.4 million. It is why mental health services are in crisis and broken equipment lies idle.
Forgive the total scepticism. This government has denuded the NHS of funding for nearly 10 years – by over 25% – over £30bn shortfall in annual funding.
With no new revenue funding, hospitals will not have the funds to provide services. In addition, all capital funds to the NHS, incur 3.5% interest charges under the ‘public funding payback’ scheme, annually in perpetuity for capital builds. Trusts are already in debt to the Treasury to the tune of £14bn to stave off bankruptcy and have to pay interest charges on this too!
Compare these promises that may not materialise with the suggested £50bn needed for the NHS, according to NHS England chairman David Prior.
To add insult to injury, government and NHS England policy includes deals with private business to build properties the NHS will have to rent at ‘market prices’ when it already in debt. And we need to ask who will benefit, when so many Conservative MPs and peers have extensive personal interest in private health business.
We can’t trust this party of government. We need a well-funded and public NHS
Dr Tony O’Sullivan co-chair Keep Our NHS Public
Additional information:
- See critical response from NHS Providers Chris Hopson raising serious doubts while seeking to welcome any actual cash https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1178192919062351872.html
- Daily Mirror https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/boris-johnsons-40-new-hospitals-20327320
- BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49867376
- Other source: Health Service Journal