Funding

• 90% of the NHS is funded by general taxation. • £300 million is from tobacco tax increases

Budget

• The NHS budget for 2004–05 was £69.7 billion, rising to £76.4 billion in 2005–06 and was £92.6 billion in 2007–08.

• Despite the increased resources, the NHS reported an overall deficit of £251 million (including Foundation Trusts) in 2004–05.

• In 2005–06, the overall deficit increased to £570 million.

• In 1999 each household paid on average £1,850 per year towards health spending

• In 2004 this has increased to £2,800 on average.

• The NHS is having to make savings of up to £20 billion over the next four years

• However the BBC states that funding will rise from £10bn to £114bn over the next four years - the equivalent of a 0.1% a year hike in real terms