Overview

• Nearly half of NHS trusts in England are scaling back services, with over a third cutting frontline clinical roles to meet unprecedented savings targets.
• Essential services like maternity units, A&E, virtual wards, diabetes clinics, and end-of-life care are being reduced or closed entirely.
• A survey of 114 NHS trusts reveals that 26% plan to close some services, while 86% are cutting non-clinical posts to halve corporate cost growth.
• Health leaders express concerns about compromised patient safety, longer waiting times, and deteriorating staff morale due to the financial reset.
• The Department of Health defends its £26 billion funding boost, citing the need for efficiency, but most of the funds have been absorbed by pay awards and inflation.