NHS Confederation responds to government announcement on 29,000 more bone scans a year

Responding to the government’s announcement that 29,000 extra bone scans a year will be delivered for patients across England as part of the government’s Elective Reform Plan, Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said:

“Investing in modern equipment is essential to boosting productivity and improving patient care. Scanners like these will play a crucial role in speeding up the diagnosis, intervention and management of osteoporosis, which improves the health of patients and is more cost effective for taxpayers.

“Our members welcomed the capital funding boost announced in the last Budget as a major first step to improving the outdated infrastructure and shortage of diagnostic equipment caused by a decade of underinvestment. But this was still at least £3.3bn a year short of what NHS leaders say is needed to address this historical lack of funding and plug the productivity gap. 

“That is why we hope the government will use next month's Spending Review to increase NHS capital investment and that the forthcoming National Infrastructure Strategy will open up much needed new routes for mutual investment from the private sector.”