Comment from health interest groups on the Budget.

Forum Response: BUPA

Ray King, group financial director of BUPA said: "As we approach the half way stage towards the targets laid down by the chancellor for improvements to be achieved in the NHS this budget confirms his commitment to investing £40 billion of extra money in the health service by 2007.  The huge investment has seen improvements in certain areas however there are still a significant number of people struggling to get the treatment they need, when they want and in a hospital of their choice.

"Most people spend the majority of their waking lives at work so companies have a key role to play in looking after the health of their staff.  Unfortunately responsible organisations that do provide corporate health insurance are penalised by the current tax system which sees employees paying for receiving private healthcare and employers paying to provide it.

"Estimates suggest that for every employee provided with private medical insurance, a business gains one day in productivity a year through increased morale, access to quicker treatment, reduced sickness absence and lower staff turnover.  In 2002 this amounted to 2.5 million working days saved by private medical insurance."

Forum Response: Carers UK

Imelda Redmond, chief executive of Carers UK said: "Carers UK also welcomed the increased spending for the NHS and enhanced winter fuel payments which will help some older carers meet the additional costs of heating in the winter-time. "

Forum Response: Council Heads of Medical Schools

A spokesperson for the CHMS told ePolitix.com:"UK Medical Research is internationally valued and the Council of Heads of Medical Schools welcomes the Chancellor's announcement of an increase in medical research spending with the NHS to £1.2 billion by 2008.  Much of the UK's Medical Research is delivered by NHS Trusts with their university partners and it is vital that the government continues to actively support this research at a time when its stability is under threat from the Human Tissue Bill, the consultant contract and decreasing numbers of academic
staff."