While NHS spending is increasing overall, there are no specific commitments on financial support for brain injury survivors.
The Chancellor also announced increases to employer’s national insurance contributions. This could potentially have a devastating effect on local independent headway charities amid ongoing financial pressures.
Increased NHS spending in England
The government’s Autumn Statement includes an increase in day-to-day NHS spending of £22.6bn.
There’s also a further increase of £3.1bn for the NHS’s capital spend for buildings and infrastructure. The day-to-day spending increase is to support NHS England deliver 40,000 extra appointments a week in line with Labour's manifesto commitment.
The latest NHS England figures show that the overall number of people waiting for neurology services is 236,621 (August 2024).
No new funding for ABI services
Despite increased NHS spending, the budget does not prioritise dedicated investment in services to support brain injury survivors and their loved ones.
Speaking after the Budget, Headway’s Director of Communications, Colin Morris, said: “The new government has missed its first opportunity to increase funding for brain injury survivors and end the neurorehabilitation postcode lottery.
“While the Chancellor’s real terms increase in NHS funding is welcome, better financial support is needed for essential community-based rehabilitation and reablement services for brain injury survivors.
He added: “It was good to hear the Chancellor reiterate the intended shift towards more preventative and community-based health services such as those offered by independent Headway charities, and we look forward to working with the government to inform this shift which will give greater support to brain injury survivors.
“However, this shift cannot come soon enough as many local Headway charities, which provide specialist rehabilitation and reablement services are facing financial crisis and the government needs to act before it is too late.”
Headway has previously written to the government explaining that local Headway charities, which provide specialist services for people living with the effects of brain injury, were facing financial crises.
As well as the often-devastating impact to the individual and those close to them, brain injury creates a huge burden on the UK economy with an estimated £15 billion spent each year across multiple government departments.
The impact of traumatic brain injury and stroke together is estimated to be nearly 2% of UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In addition to the patient-focused reasons to support brain injury survivors, there is an economic case for the government to act as well.
You can watch the full autumn budget announcement on Parliament.tv.
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