Patient experience to influence hospital funding
Hospitals may soon have their funding linked to patient satisfaction levels.
According to an early look at the ten-year health plan reported by The Guardian, healthcare providers risk losing a portion of their funding if patients report dissatisfaction.
The government claims this new policy will strengthen patient voices, with an initial rollout planned as a pilot program.
However, health leaders remain skeptical. Matthew Taylor cautioned that without thoughtful design and rigorous evaluation, “there is a risk that providers could be penalised for broader systemic problems.”
Rebellion persists despite concessions, with 150,000 expected to fall into poverty
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has delivered a ministerial statement outlining proposed welfare reforms, which include concessions for current recipients of the tariff and an additional £300 million allocated for employment support.
According to The Telegraph, these changes will cost approximately £2.5 billion in 2029-30, bringing total spending on employment support for sick and disabled individuals to £3.8 billion over the course of this Parliament.
Kendall also confirmed that the department will move forward with adjustments to the four-point eligibility criteria for new claimants, and announced that the terms of reference for the PIP review would be published today.
However, Debbie Abrahams, Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, criticised the decision, arguing—as reported by The Guardian—that such changes should be considered within the scope of the PIP review.
Despite these policy shifts, The Independent notes that the government’s own estimates suggest the cuts will still push 150,000 working-age people into relative poverty. Meanwhile, Sky News reports that No.10 contends this “doesn’t reflect the whole picture.”
As a result, Starmer faces a significant rebellion, with Andy Burnham and an estimated 50 others still opposing the bill. Ministers have yet to rule out withdrawing the whip from dissenting MPs.
Tech funding boost planned for non-acute sectors
NHS England director Alex Crossley has unveiled plans to significantly increase technology funding for community and mental health services, marking a shift away from the current approach that largely prioritises acute hospital trusts.
In an interview with HSJ, Crossley admitted that mental health electronic patient records are lacking even basic capabilities, while community services require major investment to effectively deliver the government’s neighbourhood team strategy.
This move is part of a broader £10 billion technology investment programme set to run through 2027-28. However, Crossley cautioned that securing the full funding depends on meeting a 2 per cent productivity target, with about £2.1 billion anticipated for release in the current financial year.
Multiple NHS regulatory bodies to be scrapped
Several NHS regulatory bodies are slated for abolition under new government plans.
According to HSJ, the proposals would see numerous national patient watchdogs, commissioning support units, and many local Healthwatch groups dismantled. Among them is Healthwatch England, whose responsibilities will partly transfer to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), which plans to establish a new national director of patient experience.
Other organisations set to be impacted include the Patient Safety Commissioner, the Health Services Safety Investigation Body, and the National Freedom to Speak Up Guardian’s Office. This move aligns with Wes Streeting’s earlier remark that abolishing NHS England was merely ‘the beginning, not the end.’
Louise Ansari, chief executive of Healthwatch England, expressed regret over the decision but stressed the importance of a ‘smooth transition of our functions to the NHS and government, so that the voices of patients and the public continue to be heard.’
Meanwhile, Matthew Taylor welcomed efforts to cut duplication but cautioned that many of these bodies were established in response to serious failings in care. He urged the government to proceed carefully to ensure their essential missions continue.
