Government’s failure to address NHS and social care concerns is devastating, says CSP

^{CSP chief executive Karen Middleton}

Professor Karen Middleton, chief executive of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, said: ‘I am astonished by the Autumn Statement's lack of reference to NHS funding and social care.

‘By ignoring urgent calls to increase funding, the Chancellor is simply burying his head in the sand.

‘It is not credible to argue that the NHS can continue to deliver what it does with what it has.

‘Physiotherapists see the consequences of social care cuts each day when patients who are well enough to leave cannot be discharged from hospital because of the lack of support available at home.

‘This is grossly unfair on the individuals and causes system-wide problems for the NHS.

‘It is also a major contributing factor for so many people ending up in hospital in the first place.

‘The frontloaded additional funding for the NHS this year was of course welcome, but with two more lean years ahead there are real concerns about how the service will cope.

‘The government cannot continue to rely on goodwill and frankly, good luck – it must provide the level of funding that can allow genuine change to take place for the future while ensuring patients are cared for in the present.’

Author: Robert Millett

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