Really, there was only one thing in the news this week, and that was prime minister Boris Johnson’s decision to introduce a new tax, initially via an increase in National Insurance contributions, to fund the NHS and, eventually, social care. This newsletter special outlines the proposals and initial reaction from the NHS, social care, and health tech.
However, it shouldn’t be forgotten that health is a devolved matter, and Scotland has its own spending and social care plans. This week, first minister Nicola Sturgeon recommitted her government to the big task of setting up a National Care Service to drive standards, accountability, and integration with the NHS.
