NHS 'must prepare for shortfall'

"The NHS must act now to prepare for an expected funding shortfall after 2011, two influential think-tanks have said.

Both Labour and the Conservatives have said they will protect NHS budgets in coming years.

The King's Fund and the Institute for Fiscal Studies said this would means cuts in other departments or tax rises.

But even the most generous forecast for the NHS is not enough to preventing it having to tighten its belt now, the analysis says."

Sunday, July 19, 2009