The prime minister believes new funds will tackle the Covid backlog - but refuses to set targets.
So that makes it hard to tell how much money will be needed to make inroads on the backlog of operations cancelled at the height of the pandemic.
The new funding is intended to cover not only costs of reducing waiting lists but also additional spending linked to Covid. Mr Johnson was visiting a training centre at St Thomas' and there were no patients being cared for so masks were not required when we sat down for an interview.He talked of the nine million extra treatments which, in his view, the NHS could do as a result of the higher funding.
He was anxious not to give a hostage to fortune by making predictions on numbers of the direction of travel.The documents accompanying the health and care announcement refer to a 30% increase in hospital activity from pre-pandemic levels, but note that this is an aim rather than a pledge.Mr Johnson seems to be putting his faith in social care investment taking the pressure off hospitals by getting older and frail patients discharged more swiftly.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Boris Johnson at last grasps the nettle of social-care reformBritain’s tax rise is popular, according to a poll. A plurality say it was acceptable to break the manifesto in order to fund social care. But that may not tell the full story
Read more »
Joe Biden and Boris Johnson 'discussed' Taiwan as China ups threats after AfghanistanThe British prime minister was asked to offer the U.K.'s support to the people of Taiwan amid escalating threats and disinformation campaigns from China.
Read more »
Covid: Boris Johnson concerned over unvaccinated hospital patientsBoris Johnson says a 'higher proportion' of younger people are being affected by the virus.
Read more »
Social care tax rise: MPs to hold Commons vote laterBoris Johnson says plan to raise National Insurance by 1.25 percentage points is 'reasonable and fair'.
Read more »
Covid: Boris Johnson concerned over unvaccinated hospital patientsBoris Johnson says a 'higher proportion' of younger people are being affected by the virus.
Read more »
Almost 800 migrants land in UK in one day, total of 12,000 so far this yearBritish Prime Minister Boris Johnson said stopping the English Channel crossings depends largely on the French authorities.
Read more »