![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/minister-in-charge-of-hospitals-said-healthcare-natural-place-to-start-cuts/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/1_Steve-Barclay-speech.jpg&description=Steve Barclay said just two months ago that he had instructed department heads within the health service to release information on how much their teams cost, telling a right-wing thinktank that the health service is a "natural place to start" looking for savingsSteve Barclay said that health services are a 'natural place' to cut when making cuts The minister in charge of the UK's hospitals warned just two months ago that healthcare was a "natural place to start" making cuts. In ominous remarks as the government tries to plug a huge £50 billion black hole in the nation's finances, Steve Barclay said some departments could be ordered to make savings of up to 80%. Addressing a right-wing thinktank at the start of September, Mr Barclay issued a veiled threat to managers in the NHS and beyond, hinting that they could be culled on his watch. At the time he was Health Secretary in Boris Johnson's zombie government, but was sacked days later when Liz Truss became PM. However he has since returned to the role under Rishi Sunak - and is expected to plough ahead with his "streamlining" plans. His remarks in the summer suggest huge job losses are likely on his watch after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt unleashes a fresh wave of Tory austerity in his Autumn Statement on Thursday. The government has been urged to plough more cash into the NHS and address low pay ( Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images) Unions have called for investment in health services, with the head at Unison accusing the government of ""deliberately running down the NHS". Mr Hunt himself has admitted the NHS is on the brink of collapse - but said it needs to do its "part" in solving the country's economic problems. During his September speech, Mr Barclay claimed to have identified more than 53,000 staff at healthcare organisations whose primary role isn't providing frontline work - such as NHS Digital, Integrated Care Systems and Commissioning Support Units. Hinting at a cull, he told an audience at Policy Excha){kind=link}
Steve Barclay said just two months ago that he had instructed department heads within the health service to release information on how much their teams cost, telling a right-wing thinktank that the health service is a “natural place to start” looking for savings
The minister in charge of the UK’s hospitals warned just two months ago that healthcare was a “natural place to start” making cuts.
In ominous remarks as the government tries to plug a huge £50 billion black hole in the nation’s finances, Steve Barclay said some departments could be ordered to make savings of up to 80%.
Addressing a right-wing thinktank at the start of September, Mr Barclay issued a veiled threat to managers in the NHS and beyond, hinting that they could be culled on his watch.
At the time he was Health Secretary in Boris Johnson’s zombie government, but was sacked days later when Liz Truss became PM.