Consultancy spending more stable

Spending on consultancy services by Trusts was more stable in 2011/2012, showing only a small real decline following sharp cutbacks a year earlier which were fuelled by the NHS goal to realise massive cost savings by 2014 under a new commissioning structure. In England and Wales the NHS spent an estimated £466m during the year, compared to £457m a year earlier but still well down from consultancy spend of £605m in 2009/2010. New commissioning arrangements underpin reduced spending by most PCTs, which overall moved down from £138m to £110m, and saw Strategic Health Authorities spend noticeably less, moving from £36m to £24m.