Health experts warn of risks despite George Osborne's £3.8bn NHS boost
Health experts have warned against cuts to social care and public health funding as George Osborne fast-tracked a £3.8 billion cash injection for the NHS.
The money for frontline NHS services will come from some of the £8 billion already pledged by the Chancellor.
The money has been welcomed but experts have concerns some of the money might come from cutting services that the NHS depends on to support it like public health, social care, home care for older people and training.
Rob Webster, chief executive of NHS Confederation, said: "We are clear that significant risks remain.
"In particular, the NHS will fail to deliver good care without adequate social care provision and improvements in the public's health.
"Local government budgets have been cut dramatically over the last five years and there is no doubting the knock-on impact this has on the NHS.
"If the funding gap in social care is not adequately addressed, costs will be shifted to health and if we don't use resources to keep people healthier for longer, we store up trouble for the future."
Anita Charlesworth, chief economist at the Health Foundation, said: "Make no mistake, the NHS is in the midst of an unprecedented financial crisis.
"Key targets for waiting times targets are being missed. There is deep concern about the quality of mental health services. Three-quarters of trusts are in deficit. NHS providers are expected to end the year £2.2bn in the red.
"To stop this decline the health service needs the pledged budget increases to arrive sooner rather than later and the Government's confirmation of front-loaded funding is therefore welcome.
"However, any move to redefine and shrink the definition of the NHS would be particularly worrying.
"If some of this new money comes from other parts of the health service - such as public health or training - it would be a false economy and likely to have a negative impact on service and efficiency."