Thank you for contacting me about the “Pledge for the NHS” campaign.
The Government is clear that the NHS will always provide healthcare free at the point of delivery, regardless of ability to pay. This principle applies whether NHS-funded care is being delivered by an NHS, voluntary or independent healthcare provider.
Under the Health and Care Act 2022, NHS England leads the NHS in England and has a duty to ensure that all its decisions support the health and wellbeing of the people of England. The Health Secretary has the power to give NHS England directions if it is failing to discharge any of its functions.
I strongly reject the campaign’s view that independent sector providers should not be able to deliver treatment funded by the NHS. This approach would lead to much greater delays in patients being able to access treatment when they need it. As we seek to reduce NHS waiting times, independent providers have a vital role to play, by allowing NHS patients to be treated in a private healthcare setting, freeing up capacity in NHS hospitals.
Under the NHS Constitution, patients have “the right to access certain services commissioned by NHS bodies within maximum waiting times, or for the NHS to take all reasonable steps to offer you a range of suitable alternative providers if this is not possible.”
Contrary to the campaign’s claims, the Government is already ensuring the NHS has the necessary investment to deliver better care for patients, providing an extra £45.6 billion in funding for health and social care to 2024-25. A further £4.7 billion in funding will be provided to support adult social care and discharge in 2024/25.
In addition, the Government is making the largest health capital investment in a decade, including the hospital rebuilding programme, and funding for new community diagnostic centres, surgical hubs and mental health urgent and emergency care facilities.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.