NHS Confederation responds to Labour's proposal for a 'Fit for the Future fund' for the NHS

Responding to the Labour party's proposal for a 'Fit for the Future fund' for the NHS, Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said:

“The NHS has been crying out for extra capital investment to repair its crumbling estate and replace equipment for years, so Labour’s plans to provide a five year ringfenced capital budget for diagnostic equipment should they come to power will be music to the ears of health leaders.

"While our members will strongly welcome a pledge for much-needed investment, we would be concerned if this marked an intent to further increase central mandating of capital expenditure. Local systems and Trusts face different challenges and have a clear view of their own capital priorities. 

"NHS leaders will welcome the flexibility on how ICSs may spend funding, including putting it towards IT systems, they will be keen to see Labour’s ambitions not limited to equipment and technology, and will want to see plans to tackle the repair backlog, currently worth over £11bn, as part of a much-need dedicated capital budget.

“We also need to recruit more radiographers and other diagnostic staff to use these extra scanners and diagnostic equipment given there is a big staffing shortage in these areas. But the Long-Term Workforce Plan will help address this. With a growing number of diagnostics hubs proving their worth, helping save the lives of many patients via earlier diagnosis, this proposal represents a further step in the right direction.”