NHS chief says hospitals must spend less on drugs and staff

A demand for drastic cuts in the health service will raise fears that some patients may not be given expensive treatments, reports The Times.

Tony Blair is to be told today that hospitals must make drastic cuts in spending on drugs and agency staff.

Sir Ian Carruthers, the acting head of the NHS, will present his plan for reducing the estimated £750 million NHS deficit at a No 10 seminar attended by health service managers.

Sir Ian, who took over after Sir Nigel Crisp’s sudden resignation, believes that there is considerable scope for cuts in the £10.3 billion spent every year on drugs and the £1 billion on temporary staff.

This will raise fears that some patients will not be given expensive treatments for cancer or multiple sclerosis from which they could benefit.