Published 18th May 2025.

Responding to the The King's Fund report on NHS financial pressures, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, Rachel Power, said:

"Efficiency and genuine partnership with patients must go hand in hand when addressing financial challenges in healthcare. This analysis from The King’s Fund reveals concerning discussions within the health service: 'People are having conversations about things like do we need to reduce the safe staffing levels on wards' - a revelation that shows the necessity of patients being involved in these critical decisions.

"Patients have been telling us for years about their experience of delays, poor communication, and barriers to accessing care. When services close or access becomes more difficult, disabled people, older people, and families on low incomes or areas of high depravation face the greatest challenges.

"It is clear that there are inefficiencies in the system. We support the Government's three shifts - from sickness to prevention, from hospital to community, and from analogue to digital - and want to see financial restructuring aligned to these priorities. This shouldn't be about salami slicing budgets but undertaking a wholesale review based on patient outcomes.

"Real efficiency isn't just about cutting costs - it's about achieving the best outcomes for patients. The NHS needs to look within itself to identify where productivity improvements can be made, with patients and partnership at the centre of these conversations. Right now, patients aren't at the heart of these discussions.

"We hope the upcoming 10 Year Health Plan will demonstrate how patients can be genuine partners in implementing these three shifts while addressing financial pressures. Patients understand the need for the NHS to be efficient and are ready to help identify solutions that are grounded in patient needs and connected to real outcomes."

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