Joint letter to the Chancellor ahead of the Autumn Budget
- Health inequalities
- Lived experience
- Primary care
- Hospital waiting lists
On 23 October, National Voices wrote to the Chancellor, Rt Hon Rachel Reeves ahead of the Autumn Budget. In our letter we highlighted the importance of working with people and communities and the VCSE organisations representing them to democratise decision making in health and care.
The letter, also sent to Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, puts forth three main asks for the Treasury to ensure the third sector, and those it advocates for, have the resources needed to support the Government’s ambition of “halving the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest regions in England.”
These are:
- Maintain VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance investment
- Introduce measures to reduce the health impact of the rising cost of living
- Review legacy donation mechanisms.
The letter is signed by 64 health and care organisations, representing a wide variety of health conditions and communities.
Jacob Lant, Chief Executive of National Voices said:
We must see this budget acknowledge the role of the third sector in helping to address the inequalities that exist within our society. Through their networks, members of the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance serve as a key link with thousands of people, communities and charitable organisations across England, and we urge the Government to continue funding meaningful VCSE involvement in key health and care decisions.
Not doing so risks missing out on the valuable creative solutions and vital grassroots support that the third sector offers to this country.
Our call for support for those whose health is most impacted by the cost of living crisis recognises that a preventative approach to helping people stay healthy will reduce the pressure on the NHS as well as on those who are struggling most. Similarly, our ask for a proactive approach to legacy donations within a review of taxation will prevent any unintended negative consequences on our diverse and vital third sector.
This is a critical moment for many in our society and decisions taken now will have an impact felt immediately and for years to come. We urge the Government to use this opportunity to ensure support for those who need it most.
Read the joint letter in full, along with the list of supportive organisations here.