The NHS Confederation was the first to predict the extent of the financial challenge for the NHS in the three years from 2011. Discussions with our members have shown many good ideas about how to respond to the downturn, including providing care closer to home, managing long-term conditions to reduce costs, reducing variation, skill mix and substitution, organisational mergers, and integrating services.
This report discusses the upsides and pitfalls associated with some of them, looks in detail at the challenge facing the NHS, and attempts to unpick the uncertainty in the wider debate. It also sets out the myths versus reality about saving money in the system and includes a reminder of the positives in these challenging times.