NHS receives major Budget boost but ‘lacklustre’ social care settlement will hit councils, experts warn

The NHS has been handed a huge £22.6bn boost in Rachel Reeves’ first Budget – but experts have warned that funding for social care falls short.

Labour’s historic budget will see spending on the NHS increase by 3.8 per cent in real terms in 2025-26, and funding for infrastructure increase to £13.6 billion – an uplift of 10.9 per cent.