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

The National Health Service (NHS) is increasingly relying on charities to support patients and their families, potentially creating issues for those who require healthcare. Dementia specialist nurse Louise Burns explains that her virtual clinic, which supports over 100 patients and family members weekly, helps individuals navigate the discharge process and provides guidance on where to seek further assistance.

The clinic, funded by the charity Dementia UK, aims to address the growing demand for dementia care and the challenges faced by the NHS and social care due to limited resources. As various charities, from cancer services to mental health and children's care, play an increasingly significant role in patient care, the involvement of these organizations raises concerns.

While charities raise substantial funds - cancer charities alone raise over £1 billion annually and the NHS in England spends nearly £2 billion buying services from the not-for-profit and voluntary sectors - critics argue that this reliance on charities could exacerbate inequalities, with larger sums raised by charities in wealthier communities.