NHS: PM to look at 'multi-year' funding plan for health service
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AFP
Theresa May has promised a "multi-year" funding plan for the NHS in England to address its long-terms financial needs.
The PM said she wanted to get away from "annual top-ups" in cash and would come up with a blueprint this year to allow the NHS "to plan for the future".
She said the NHS faced "serious cost pressures and demands" and she wanted to build a political consensus on boosting productivity and efficiency.
On Sunday, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt called for a ten-year funding deal.
He said a long-term deal would allow proper planning to train the staff needed to cope with the challenges of Britain's ageing population.
More than 100 MPs have urged the PM to set up a cross-party Parliamentary Commission to address the health service's long-term funding needs.
Appearing before the Commons Liaison Committee, Mrs May said she wanted to come up with a different approach to funding the NHS and social care in the run-up to next year's government Spending Review.
She said she wanted a dialogue with NHS workers, as well as MPs, to discuss the best way forward.
Mrs May said the NHS had received an extra £10bn since 2016 but she wanted to get away from yearly cash injections, often in response to specific pressures.
"What I want is a long-term plan for the NHS that is properly resourced," she said.
After his recent Spring Statement, Chancellor Philip Hammond hinted at "headroom" for further money while last week ministers and unions agreed a pay rise for 1.3 million NHS staff, averaging 6.5% over three years.
Mrs May would not comment on press reports over the weekend that ministers were looking at a dedicated tax backed by some Conservative MPs - which the BBC understands have been discussed at a cabinet.