BHTA Chief Executive responds to Spring Statement 2025

Last Updated on 28/03/2025 by Sarah Sarsby

On 26 March, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, delivered the Spring Statement 2025, which delivers the UK Government’s spending plans and the economic outlook for the financial year ahead.

However, no new funding was announced for healthcare and assistive technology equipment providers, the NHS, or social care. This comes off the back of the recent major news that NHS England will be officially abolished.

David Stockdale, Chief Executive of the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA), responded to the statement: “No new funding for the health and care sector, NHS England being abolished, and businesses having to pay increased employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) from next month lead to a worryingly economically uncertain position for our members.

“We have already expressed major concerns over the employer NIC hike and the impact this will have on our members. Many of our members are SMEs that are tied to fixed-price contracts with NHS suppliers and local authorities, and rising business costs could make them completely unsustainable.

“Pair this with no new funding for the NHS and social care as well as the procurement landscape set to change with the abolishment of NHS England and it means BHTA members are operating in an unstable landscape.

“We’re calling on the government to provide clarity on what will happen to NHS Supply Chain and procurement more broadly as well as provide funding for healthcare equipment providers to ensure that essential services are not decimated and people can continue getting the vital products they need.”