HEALTHCARE across the borough could be set to benefit from a multi-billion pound Government cash injection.
The Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which plans and pays for the NHS-funded healthcare in the borough, has welcomed Chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement announcement than an urgent £6 billion grant would be granted to the NHS to help frontline services cope with growing demands and staff shortages.
The grant is part of the Government’s promise that the NHS will will receive £10 billion more in real terms by 2020-21 than in 2014-15.
Dr Patrick Brooke, accountable officer at Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group, welcomed the promise of up-front investment, but said it needed to be considered within the context of the £22 billion savings the NHS has been forced to make.
Arguing the details of the Chancellor’s pledge would need to be further examined before the impact on Solihull could be fully understood, Dr Brooke added: “We believe that the government’s commitment will allow us to continue our program of work to transform our local health and care system.
“In Solihull, all parts of the public sector are working together and have developed ambitious plans for local health and care.
“Solihull was recently awarded national vanguard status for its pioneering work in developing a more joined up system that will enable our citizens to have better control of their health and care thus reducing their need for hospital services.
“We believe the Chancellor’s settlement and financial commitment to NHS’ Five Year Forward View will provide us with some upfront resource that will enable us to deliver the changes we need to create a high quality, local responsive and sustainable service.”
