STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Patients with cancer, heart disease and other major conditions will suffer harm and needless deaths under new NHS funding proposals, hundreds of hospital specialists have warned. More than 300 consultants have written an open letter to the head of the health service pleading for the reversal of plans which they say will mean swingeing restrictions on care. Under the NHS funding proposals, hospitals which provide specialist care to increasing numbers of patients will be reimbursed just half the cost of every extra case. The formula is part of attempts to divert more funds into out-of hospital care, and long-term prevention of disease. But hospital consultants say the 50 per cent funding rate for extra cases will cause devastation, given that the numbers of patients will inevitably rise with Britain’s ageing population.