The chancellor’s budget spending increase will largely be absorbed by pre-existing plans, says top thinktank

Medical experts have warned the boost to NHS funding in England unveiled in the budget will not be enough to rebuild the country’s ailing health service and that it will take time for patients to see improvements

Rachel Reeves last week announced an additional £22.6bn over this year and next for the NHS, which she claimed was the biggest spending increase for the health service – outside the Covid pandemic – since 2010.