The NHS is relying more on charities - and that might be creating problems for patients

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. The NHS is relying more on charities - and that might be creating problems for patientsPublished2 minutes agoByNick Triggle Health correspondentThe distress of the man on the other end of the video call was clear to dementia specialist nurse Louise Burns. He was struggling to get his elderly mum, who had the condition, out of hospital - she needed support to move into her home. Burns was able to put him at ease.

She is part of a team running virtual clinics that support more than 100 patients and family members a week: "No matter what stage they are at, we try to help," she says. She explained the discharge process and where to go for help. The man's mother was soon back where she wanted to be.

The Details

Traditionally, a service like this would have been run by the National Health Service – but the clinic, which was set up during Covid and continued because of strong demand, is entirely funded by the charity Dementia UK. The charity's chief nursing officer Paul Edwards says it is "trying to fill the gaps" within stretched NHS services. Burns adds: "The NHS and social care are under such huge pressure and dementia cases are rising - it's not always easy to get the support you need.

"Dementia UK is just one of many charities working in the health sphere. From children's care to mental health and cancer services, charities are playing an increasingly important role in caring for patients. Image source, Press AssociationImage caption, In her clinic, Louise Burns (left) helps patients who may be struggling with a recent diagnosis or who have noticed worrying symptomsSome - largely in England - have formal NHS contracts, while others work side-by-side with the health service across the UK, trying to provide additional support to patients in a way the NHS cannot.

A desire from governments of different parties from the 1990s onwards to develop a market of providers – NHS, private and voluntary sector – has meant the charity sector is now big business in health. It's estimated that cancer charities alone raise more than £1bn a year, and the NHS in England spends nearly £2bn a year buying services from the not-for-profit and voluntary sector. But there are concerns about the scale of charities' involvement in delivering frontline services - including from within the voluntary sector itself.

What Experts Say

Those directly providing services say they are having to subsidise squeezed NHS budgets. And despite the good intentions of the charitable sector, some critics say its work with the NHS means more money ends up in wealthier communities. Defenders of charities' involvement, however, say much-needed funding should be welcomed.

So is the growing role of charities a symptom of a health service at breaking point - or a positive way of involving the public in their health care? And what are the risks? Back to the time before Bevan?

There's nothing new about UK health charities taking on a major role in delivering services.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.