NHS ahead of schedule on efficiency savings, says health secretary

Health secretary Andrew Lansley painted a rosy picture of the state of the NHS finances when questioned by MPs this week.

Appearing before the Commons health select committee Mr Lansley said: “Significant progress has already been made. The QIPP (Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention) programme is already delivering savings.”

He said that the Audit Commission had reported efficiency savings over the service as a whole of £4.3bn (€4.9bn; $6.8bn) during 2010-11. And primary care trusts had reported planned efficiency savings of £5.9bn in 2011-12. “If those savings are fully achieved that would put us ahead of …