Chancellor Reeves Announces £29bn Annual NHS Funding Boost

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced a record £29 billion annual increase in NHS funding by 2028-29, aiming to deliver more appointments, doctors, and scanners as part of a 3% yearly uplift in real-term day-to-day spending. Despite this historic investment, NHS leaders caution that the funding may still be insufficient to meet waiting time targets, especially given rising costs of new treatments and staff pay demands, with doctors considering strike action over pay disputes. The government highlights achievements such as adding 1,700 new GPs, increasing appointments by 3.5 million, and reducing waiting lists by 200,000, alongside a £10 billion investment in digitizing NHS services over ten years. Alongside healthcare, Reeves also announced a £10 billion financial investment to attract private funding for housing, supplementing a £39 billion Affordable Homes Programme, with plans to support social housing development and maintain rent settlements. These moves reflect the government's broader strategy to address public service demands and infrastructure development amid economic constraints. NHS England and health officials acknowledge the funding boost but emphasize ongoing challenges in balancing rising costs and service delivery.