Looking ahead to the healthcare challenges facing the next government, Conor Ellis, head of healthcare at built asset consultancy, EC Harris, argues, in a personal viewpoint, that ‘more commercial’ business case returns on investment, better commercial and FM delivery, and more strategic thought on project engagement ahead of procurement, should be among the priorities if the NHS is to continue to provide the standard of care for which it is world-renowned while operating efficiently and within tight budgets.
He also argues that ‘more joined-up care integration’ in the next Parliament will drive both efficiency and better provision of care.
What a difference a month makes. The fact that the March Budget made little mention of healthcare was in itself newsworthy. Health department spending is in the midst of a long-term political and economic demand-led recession, and the fact that it has increased by £2.5 bn, (up from £109.3 billion in 2014/15 to £111.8 billion in 2015/16) will make precious little difference to the stability of the overall system given the current scale of the financing need for the NHS.
But April is different, and the political parties eyeing up the Election are full of short-term promises. If only the £30 bn NHS ‘black hole’ could be filled by an annual £2 bn pledge from the parties: perhaps this is politicians demonstrating efficiency! Like any public bidding war, it is interesting to see numbers being quickly recast against a public reaction. This will certainly help the NHS if the £8 bn extra promised annually by two parties by 2020 is carried through. But maybe – like tuition fees – these promises will simply be buried in post-Election trading.
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