UK pledges £30 billion boost to NHS in 3-year spending review

UK – The UK government is set to boost NHS funding by nearly £30 billion over the next three years, making healthcare the biggest winner in the upcoming spending review.

The Department of Health will receive a 2.8% rise in its day-to-day budget, equating to a £17 billion increase in real terms, according to The Times.

However, this increase will come with trade-offs. Other public services like police forces, local councils, and departments such as the Foreign Office and Culture Ministry are expected to face tight budgets and real-term cuts.

Ministers are highlighting this NHS commitment, along with a £100 billion capital investment plan, as key parts of their pitch to the public.

Labour leader Keir Starmer has promised that by the next general election, 92% of patients waiting for planned treatments will be seen within 18 weeks—a sharp rise from the current 60% seen in that timeframe.

Despite this investment, NHS waiting lists are still a concern. The latest data showed a small increase, with 6.25 million people waiting for treatment in England.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves admitted she had to deny funding requests from some departments due to budget constraints.

Speaking in Manchester, she said, “Not every department will get what they want,” blaming past Conservative-led governments for the current financial strain.

The spending plan reflects tough choices, with the Institute for Fiscal Studies predicting that defence and the NHS will dominate budget allocations.

The Home Office has been pushing for more funds, warning that cuts could hinder efforts to reduce knife crime and violence against women and girls.

Police chiefs have voiced similar concerns, saying they may have to limit investigations if funding is reduced.

Meanwhile, the Home Office is still set to spend around £2.2 billion of foreign aid to support asylum seekers in the UK, slightly down from £2.3 billion the previous year.

As of March, over 32,000 asylum seekers were living in temporary hotel accommodations. The government says it’s working to reduce those costs.

Science & tech gets £86 billion boost

In a parallel announcement, the government will allocate £86 billion to science and technology through 2029.

The funding aims to spark innovation in medicine, energy storage, and regional economic growth. Up to £500 million will be directed to local areas to spend based on regional strengths.

Projects include drug discovery in Liverpool, defence tech in Northern Ireland, and microchip design in South Wales.

Reeves stated that this investment is part of a broader plan to create jobs, strengthen national security, and enhance living standards.

While industry leaders have welcomed the move, some warn that without long-term planning for workforce development and better support for universities, the UK’s ambitions in global science leadership may fall short.

John-Arne Rottingen of Wellcome emphasized the need for bold action, noting that visa issues, financial stress at universities, and inflationary pressures must be addressed for the strategy to succeed.

“The UK should be aiming to lead the G7 in research intensity, to bring about economic growth and the advances in health, science and technology that benefit us all,” he said.