Sunak ‘to spend billions to digitise NHS’

“Rishi Sunak is preparing to unveil an additional multi-billion pound boost for the NHS following the £36 billion package already announced last month, The Telegraph can disclose. The Chancellor is expected to use this week’s Budget statement to announce an increase of some £5 billion in the health service’s capital budget, which will include funds for a digital overhaul of the NHS after Sajid Javid revealed that one in 10 trusts still operate on “paper-based systems”. The latest windfall for the health service, as part of Mr Sunak’s three-year spending review, is also expected to include an additional half-a-billion pounds towards Boris Johnson’s pledge of 48 new hospitals by 2030 and dozens more hospital upgrades. In total, Mr Sunak is expected to confirm more than £4 billion of funding for new hospitals and hospital upgrades.” – Sunday Telegraph

• Obesity and cancer targeted in Rishi Sunak’s budget – The Times

More:

• Chancellor pledges £435million to beef up CCTV, street lighting and sex offence prosecutions – Mail on Sunday
• …another £3billion in training thousands of British workers for better-paid jobs… – Sun on Sunday
• …and £700 million to combat illeal immigration – Sunday Express
• Budget will cut air passenger duty for flights within the UK – Mail on Sunday

Senior Tories tell Chancellor: spend, don’t cut, to level up

“Rishi Sunak is being warned by senior Tories not to allow “Treasury orthodoxy” to choke off critical funding this winter, with Conservatives demanding action in the budget over energy bills, criminal justice and support for the low-paid. As the chancellor prepares to unveil his budget and spending review this week, he is still being pressed to include measures that would curb the impact of rising energy bills and the £20-a-week cut to universal credit. Sunak is set to announce a significant increase in the national living wage, and is also considering additional help for people struggling with energy bills in the wake of rising prices. His package will include £3bn for post-16 education and adult learning. It will cover skills boot camps, £1.6bn for teenagers to study T-levels, and 24,000 traineeships. However, MPs from across the party are concerned that the Treasury is taking too hard a line on spending, which risks damaging Boris Johnson’s pledge to “level up” the country.” – The Observer

• Fuel duty hike would derail Boris Johnson’s ‘level up’ Britain drive, Chancellor warned – Sun on Sunday
• Chancellor in row over Treasury’s failure to cut business rates in Budget – Sunday Telegraph

>Today: ToryDiary: How the Prime Minister and the Chancellor could do a deal on spending

Rishi Sunak: Families are feeling the pinch right now… but I’ve got your back in the Budget

“I know that families here at home are feeling the pinch of higher prices and are worried about the months ahead. But I want you to know, we will continue to do whatever it takes, we will continue to have your backs — just like we did during the pandemic. And while we cannot solve these problems overnight, I’m determined to meet these challenges head on, with the same grit and determination this great nation has shown throughout the pandemic. On Wednesday, I will deliver a Budget and Spending Review that delivers on this and on the priorities of the British people. A Budget to support businesses and working families. A Budget to invest in public services, invest in growth, and invest in jobs.” – Sun on Sunday

>Yesterday: ToryDiary: Having retreated on planning reform, it would be absurd to deliberately hike mortgage costs

Millions to get their Covid booster shot a month early

“Ministers are ripping up the booking system for Covid booster jabs with millions set to receive their vaccines a month early amid growing fears the faltering programme risks triggering a winter spike – and another dreaded lockdown. Health Secretary Sajid Javid has ordered NHS chiefs to allow over-50s to book their third jab a month earlier than at present in a bid to turbocharge the sluggish rollout of boosters to combat Covid. It comes as Javid is also planning to enforce laws to make Covid vaccines mandatory for all NHS workers, making them a ‘condition of employment’ as soon as possible. He believes it will help protect vulnerable patients from contracting the virus in hospitals but there are fears it could spark a backlash among vaccine hesitant staff or civil rights groups.” – Mail on Sunday

• Javid will force NHS staff to have two Covid jabs – Sunday Times
• Education Minister will send teenagers ‘please get the vaccine’ letter – Mail on Sunday
• Covid passports and face mask wearing move step closer – Sun on Sunday

More:

• No 10 stubs out officials’s ‘nanny state’ plan to ban smoking on pavements – Mail on Sunday

Comment:

• The ills of the NHS won’t be cured until its protective halo is removed – Matthew Syed, Sunday Times
• Javid’s hospital pass: can he defuse the NHS time bomb? – Caroline Wheeler, Sunday Times

>Today: Narinder Singh in Comment: Javid is right to insist on better performance data from GPs

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