UK bosses warn mounting energy bills could force hospitals to cut patient services
- Most hospital groups said there would be a knock-on effect as they expected bills to at least double after price hikes kicked in
- With winter approaching, the National Health Service said the incoming prime minister needs to act immediately to offset cost of living increases
UK hospital bosses on Thursday warned that patient care may have to be cut to offset huge increases in energy bills over the winter months.
Most hospital groups contacted by medical journal the BMJ said they expected bills to at least double, as the price hikes kicked in.
The NHS Confederation, which represents health providers in the publicly funded National Health Service, said there would be a knock-on effect.
“The gap in funding from rising inflation will either have to be made up by fewer staff being employed, longer waiting times for care or other areas of patient care being cut back,” the group’s senior acute lead, Rory Deighton, told the BMJ.
“A failure to properly compensate the NHS for inflation will only heighten pressure on our health service as we move towards a winter that we know will be particularly challenging this year.”
UK inflation is at a 40-year high of 10.1 per cent with dire predictions that rates could climb to 18 per cent or more next year.