The Health Committee consistently underlines the importance of the “Nicholson Challenge” – which spells out the requirement for health and social care services to achieve 4% year-on-year efficiency gains to allow them to meet rising demand for care through a period of minimal real resource growth. The Committee published reports in December 2010, January 2012 and January 2013 which examined the progress made towards delivering this objective.
In this inquiry the Committee returns to the subject. In its inquiry the Committee considers: the plans being made by NHS bodies to enable them to meet the Nicholson Challenge, and whether the NHS is succeeding in making efficiency gains rather than cuts; the impact on the provision of adult social care of the 2010 spending review settlement; and the ability of local authorities to make the necessary efficiency savings, amongst other issues.