THE Chancellor will hike health spending by another £11billion – just weeks after the NHS was handed another £12billion a year.
A £6billion package of funding to help tackle NHS backlogs across England will form a major plank of Wednesday's Budget.
Getty - ContributorThe Chancellor said: 'We are committed to getting health services back on track and ensuring no one is left waiting for vital tests or treatment'[/caption] AFPRishi Sunak will hike health spending by another £11billion – just weeks after the NHS was handed another £12billion a year[/caption]
And there will be £5billion for cutting edge research and development.
The catch up cash will go toward new mobile testing, checks and scan sites for a range of problems – with these appointments currently making up the vast majority of the Covid backlog.
As well as providing more checks, tests and scans, and help get waiting lists down, £2.3billion of the funding package will be used to try to transform diagnostic services.
These centres are expected to help clear most existing test backlogs caused by the pandemic, including for CT, MRI and ultrasound scans, by the end of the parliament.
The Treasury said the additional capacity will also ensure the resilience of the country's diagnostic services in the years to come.
Most read in The Sun
CHEW ARE YER?
Paul Scholes mocked as daughter shares video of him chewing her TOENAILS
RISHI RICH
Major boost for workers as Rishi Sunak set to raise minimum wage to £10 an hour
BAKERS' TREAT
Matt Baker's wife Nicola 'can't believe it' as star reveals family news
results anger
Strictly fury as 'spoiler' is leaked again and shock couple get the boot
EYE-BIZA
Theo Campbell sues Wayne Lineker's club after being hit in eye with champagne cork
STAR'S SNUB
Corrie legend Johnny Briggs cut his drug addict daughter out of his £550k will
It was announced over the weekend that the Department of Health and Social Care will also receive £5billion over the next three years to fund research and development.
Health chiefs said last night it will fund genome technology to allow doctors to detect more than 200 conditions in babies, compared with existing tests which can only identify nine.
Some £95million of the funding will go towards the Office for Life Sciences to help with cutting-edge innovations to help treat cancer, obesity and mental ill health.
Last night Mr Sunak said: "We are committed to getting health services back on track and ensuring no one is left waiting for vital tests or treatment.
"This is a game-changing investment in the NHS to make sure we have the right buildings, equipment and systems to get patients the help they need and make sure the NHS is fit for the future."
Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid, said: "Our phenomenal NHS has worked so hard to keep people safe during the pandemic and we'll do whatever it takes to make sure people are getting the treatment they need as quickly as possible.
"This £6billion investment will support the delivery of millions more checks, scans and procedures for patients across the country."
Boost on borders
BRITAIN'S creaking borders are set for a £703million upgrade in Wednesday's budget.