NHS Cuts Uncovered

Aim

We want to build a public database tracking NHS cuts, to provide transparency so patients can hold the government accountable.

The government says the NHS is getting the funding it needs.

If that’s true, then why are so many NHS trusts and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) planning to make cuts?

Nearly two-thirds of local NHS leaders said they will likely need to reduce or cut patient services this year just to meet their financial plans, according to a recent survey.

What exactly are they going to cut?

We don’t know. All too often, the crucial details are buried deep within the minutes of board meetings and 100-page reports. Even some councils are left in the dark.

We believe it is vital that the public has full transparency over which services are facing the axe, so we can hold the government accountable for its funding decisions.

That is why we are crowdfunding to build a public database that tracks NHS cuts in your local area.

Our plan to fight back

With your support, we will launch an in-depth investigation to bring transparency to all NHS patients and staff across the country:

• Crowdsourcing local insights: We will use our network of supporters and clinicians to report reductions and cuts to services on the ground.
• Expert research: Our team will fight to secure documents that reveal the true scale of the cuts being planned behind closed doors.

Together, this approach will give the wider public the exact tools they need to challenge local NHS cuts and demand better funding.

Why this matters right now

We already know the damage that years of austerity did to the health service: a higher death toll during the pandemic and, now, record-long waiting lists for treatment.

This time, things are more complicated. While the government has given the NHS an average 2.2% real-terms increase in day-to-day spending over the next three years, it is still significantly below the long-term average of 3.9%.

Despite this, most trusts and ICBs are still under financial strain. Why? A combination of being required to deliver much higher levels of savings than in previous years, all while trying to cope with demographic changes, rising demand, and soaring costs.

It is a recipe for disaster. In the early 2000s, intense pressure to improve finances at Stafford Hospital led to cost-saving measures being prioritised over patients. The result was “appalling” levels of care.

Politicians promised “never again”. Yet, without a platform for whistleblowers and researchers to bring these cuts to light, there is a real risk that we won't know the truth until it is too late.

First, we need your help. We are a small, doctor-led, non-profit organisation. We rely entirely on crowdfunding to carry out our investigations.

We have a track record of success

In the last year alone, our small team has revealed that:

• MPs received more than £2.9 million in donations from individuals and companies with connections to the private healthcare industry.
• Private investors earned more than £523 million in profits and interest payments from PFI hospital contracts.
• Private healthcare executives helped draft the government’s 10-year plan for the NHS.

Our work has generated millions of views on social media and we reach hundreds of thousands of followers. We achieved all of this entirely with the generous support of hundreds of people like you.

Will you help us give the public the transparency they deserve over NHS cuts? Please donate today.

Any funds exceeding our Crowdfund target will be used to continue our work fighting for a better NHS for all NHS staff and patients.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 14th July 2026 at 10:06am