Dentists' representatives along with most of the NHS professions have made a joint plea to Chancellor Philip Hammond to use his forthcoming autumn budget to deliver long-term investment in the NHS workforce, public health services and adult social care.

A coalition of 11 royal colleges and health faculties sent a letter1 on 16 October 2018 to Hammond saying that without this investment, there was a real risk the NHS would fail to meet demands despite the recent £20.5 billion funding increase announced in the summer.

The letter was signed jointly by the Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (including the Faculty of Dental Surgery), Royal College of Surgeons, Royal College of Anaesthetists, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Royal College of Nursing, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Royal College of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Public Health and Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare.

The signatories warn that unless the autumn budget is used as an opportunity to build upon the NHS funding settlement, plans for truly integrated care will not be possible and consequent demand on NHS services will not be manageable.

'There is no excuse for delay,' says the letter. 'Once again we face a winter of high bed occupancy and low staff morale, which an injection of adult social care funding will significantly alleviate.'

The letter also says a healthier population is critical to the long-term sustainability of all public services, including NHS and social care services, and concludes: 'We can no longer afford to plan and fund health and care services in isolation. A stronger strategy to make sure we live both long and healthy lives must start now.'