Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Deferred
Committee scrutinised NHS financial management and sustainability with key departments.
Conclusion
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), NHS England (NHSE), and HM Treasury (HMT) on the financial management and financial sustainability of the NHS in England.1
Government Response Summary
The government states it is working with NHS England to publish planning guidance earlier and aims to improve the planning process for future years. It defers further consideration of this recommendation to the upcoming 10 Year Health Plan.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. approval is received by Government, in recent years this has been actioned on the same day. NHS England (NHSE) and the Department of Health and Social care (DHSC) continue to work together to enable planning guidance to be published well in advance of the start of the financial year, and ideally before Christmas. Having published 2025-26 planning guidance on 30 January 2025, NHSE is working with Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and providers to have full plans developed before the start of the 2025-26 financial year. NHSE and DHSC will continue to work together and with HM Treasury to improve the planning process and ensure timely publication of guidance to the system, and earlier agreement of priorities and financial allocations for future years. billion in the prior year with the first stable year since the pandemic. This is the right trajectory of improvement for the 10 Year Health Plan to set out how the government and NHSE will deliver an NHS fit for the future. It will consider the activities highlighted by the committee, in particular: • How to build a prevention-focussed health system. This will mean that people live healthier lives for longer. • How to shift the balance of care from hospital-centred to community-based settings. This will mean that fewer people go to hospital with more care being delivered in settings suitable for people’s needs. • How to maximise the impact of data and digital technology in healthcare. This will mean that diseases are diagnosed earlier, patient care is improved, and staff have more time to treat patients. 2.3 Funding for 2026-27 onwards will be determined following Spending Review Phase 2 and will be aligned to support the delivery of the 10 Year Health Plan. 2.4 Spend in community healthcare and digital technology are already monitored, and as outlined in response to the Committee’s recommendation 5a, the department and NHSE are considering measuring and tracking health prevention spend in the context of developing the 10 Year Health Plan. 2.5 Actions to strengthen longer-term strategic financial planning are also being considered in the context of developing the 10 Year Health Plan and will be helped by a multi- year settlement at Spending Review Phase 2. 2.6 This recommendation will be considered in more detail ahead of the Plan’s publication in Spring. The Committee will be notified of the response to this recommendation when it is confirmed.