New watchdog and concern for elderly

HEALTH SECRETARY Alan Milburn has been bidding for an extra £5bn to fund a huge expansion in the IT programme and pay for the computer services needed to run it. This money would update the antiquated system and introduce greater efficiency.

What they got

Very little of Gordon Brown's statement was devoted today to health, because his announcement in February set out his blueprint for an extra £40bn for the NHS over the next five years.

That marks an inflation-busting 7.4% rise in real terms to invest in hospitals, clinics and GP surgeries, taking the health budget from £65bn to £105bn. But it is accompanied by tough requirements for improvements.

Gordon Brown signalled today that there would be a health inspectorate to oversee standards, already announced

earlier this year. It will mirror the inspection teams being brought in for education and policing, to show that there is some independent auditing

of public services. When the Chancellor announced the extrabns for health in February, it was on the back of the Wanless report, which forecast the needs of the NHS for the next 20 years.

Mr Milburn plans to buy the services of 15,000 more doctors, 38,000 nurses, and to build 42 hospitals. Much of the money will be targeted at bringing down the waiting lists for cancer and heart patients who are being prioritised for care.

But the Chancellor also signalled his desire today to see more effort going into providing decent community care for the elderly, amid concerns that nursing homes are closing and not enough is being done to prevent old people spending weeks unnecessarily in hospital.

No mention was made of the amount that will be spent on pay awards for NHS staff, the biggest cost pressure building up. Consultants have already won 10% over three years.

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