Total spending on health by government, households and charities was 80.6 billion in 2002 (7.7 per cent of gross domestic product), a rise of 7.8 per cent compared with 2001.
Source: Press release 16 December 2003, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: ONS press release (pdf) | DH press release
Date: 2003-Dec
A comprehensive assessment of the National Health Service estate highlighted recent improvements to hospitals, buildings and equipment. It said that in 1995 half of the buildings in the NHS were older than the NHS itself, whereas by 2003 that figure had been cut to fewer than a quarter.
Source: A New Generation of Healthcare Facilities: Modernising the fabric of the NHS, Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Report (pdf) | DH press release
Date: 2003-Sep
A survey found that revenues generated by National Health Service trusts from treating private patients in NHS hospitals rose by 7.6 per cent in 2001-02 to 359 million, double the rate of growth in 2000-01.
Source: NHS Trusts & Primary Care Trusts Financial Information 2003, Laing & Buisson (020 7833 9123)
Links: L&B press release
Date: 2003-Apr
A report summarised the ways in which additional National Health Service funds of 5.2 billion were used in 2002-03. It identified an additional 1.3 billion spent on additional staff, and 850 million on increased prescribing. Investment in training, capital and research was expected to increase during the year by almost 1.0 billion. Around 1.6 billion was used to improve staff pay. The government claimed the report showed that extra funds for the NHS delivered results. Opposition parties said it showed the NHS was in crisis, pointing out that more than half of the increase in funds had been absorbed by rising staffing costs.
Source: Delivering the NHS Plan - Expenditure report, Department of Health (08701 555455) | The Guardian, 2.4.03
Links: DH press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Apr
The government commissioned an updated report from Derek Wanless on the funding needs of the National Health Service. (Wanless provided a report in 2002 used to justify subsequent national insurance increases to pay for additional NHS spending.)
Source: Budget 2003: Building a Britain of economic strength and social justice - Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report, and Financial Statement and Budget Report, HC 500, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Budget report
Date: 2003-Apr
The United Kingdom spent 75 billion on health in 2001, according to official figures. Of this, 62 billion (82 per cent) was public expenditure and 13 billion (18 per cent) was spent on private health (including spending by charitable and religious organisations). As a percentage of gross domestic product, total health expenditure was 7.6 per cent in 2001 - up from 7.3 per cent in 2000, and close to the European Union average.
Source: Economic Trends, March 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Press release (pdf) | ONS health accounts webpage
Date: 2003-Mar
Public spending on health in the United Kingdom in 2001 was almost 6 billion higher than in 2000 - 7.6 per cent of gross domestic product compared to 7.3 per cent. The public share of total health expenditure rose from 81 per cent to 82 per cent.
Source: UK Health Accounts: Experimental statistics, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report (pdf) | UK health accounts webpage
Date: 2003-Feb
The government announced National Health Service capital spending allocations for the three years 2003-04 to 2005-06. NHS trusts will on average receive an increase of 10 per cent in each of the three years. Strategic health authorities will receive increases of 13, 11 and then 14 per cent.
Source: Press release 8.1.03, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: DH press release
Date: 2003-Jan
