UK pledges £5.4b for pandemic-hit state healthcare
[LONDON] The UK government on Monday announced £5.4 billion (S$10 billion) in extra funding for the state-funded healthcare system to treat virus cases and clear a massive backlog in routine operations.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and health minister Sajid Javid announced the extra cash, to be handed out over the next six months, saying it would help "manage the immediate pressures of the pandemic".
The state-funded National Health Service, or NHS, has struggled to cope with soaring virus rates and has diverted medics away from their usual specialisations to help treat Covid-19 patients, leading to long waiting lists for operations and treatment.
The largest part of the extra funding, £2.8 billion is allocated to virus-related costs such as enhanced infection control measures, the government said, while £1 billion will help tackle the backlog in other treatment and operations.
Mr Johnson acknowledged that "treating Covid patients has created huge backlogs" and said the money would go "straight to the frontline" to provide treatments that patients "aren't getting quickly enough."
Mr Javid said the waiting lists would get worse before they get better due to more people coming forward for treatment following relaxation of virus restrictions.
GET BT IN YOUR INBOX DAILY
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
The health ministry predicted the waiting list for routine operations such as hip replacements and cataract removal could soar to 13 million.
The extra funding announced is only for England while other regions will receive up to £1 billion this and next year.
The UK's total virus cases rose to 7.02 million on Monday.
The announcement comes as the government is also proposing a hike in a tax on earnings to help pay for care homes for older people, many of whom currently have to meet these costs privately.
AFP
KEYWORDS IN THIS ARTICLE
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
International
US inflation increases moderately in February; consumer spending surges
Fed’s balancing act could see June rate cut in play even with sticky inflation
China’s red carpet draws CEOs but few expect their money to follow
Australia wants businesses to diversify after China scraps wine tariffs
Japan FX chief calls yen’s slump unusual, vows to act if needed
Trump’s meme stock is skyrocketing but for how long?