Spending more on frontline care doesn't mean we need tax hikes, says TaxPayers' Alliance

Commenting on the government's announcement that the NHS will receive a significant boost in funding, John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:

"Spending more on healthcare isn't in and of itself a bad thing, and after the EU referendum voters expected more money for the NHS. But another short term spending increase without serious reform means we run the real risk of throwing good money after bad.

"The tax burden is about to hit a near-50 year high, so a lot more should be done to bring down costs rather than ask taxpayers to dig deeper still, especially when the cost of living is so high. There are things that can still be done to save money - for instance, there is much better value to be had from procurement, and the NHS should embrace automation more quickly. That would let frontline staff focus on patient care and free up resources for big priorities, like cancer treatment."