The National Audit Office report, NHS Financial Management and Sustainability, examines the financial management and sustainability of the NHS, and highlights the significant financial challenges it faces. These include inflation, post-pandemic recovery, and increased social care demand.
NHS England's expected resource expenditure for 2023-24 is £153 billion, with an estimated aggregated deficit of the 42 NHS systems in 2023-24 of £1.4 billion.
Fifteen out of 19 Integrated Care Board (ICB) chief financial officers, responding to NAO’s survey, stated their ICB’s underlying financial position had deteriorated in 2023-24.
Waiting lists are still high, post-pandemic, with 7.6 million patients are waiting to start treatment.
The introduction of Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) was intended to bring together NHS bodies, local government, and other organisations to improve health outcomes.
However, the report notes that national-level strategies are needed to address workforce shortages, financial sustainability, and social care demand pressures on ICSs.
King's Fund comment on the report and on the 'desperate state of NHS finances'.
