Chancellor announces £22.6bn cash injection for health service in budget

Rachel Reeves hails biggest increase ‘outside of Covid’ since 2010 but health experts say patients may not feel impact

The health service is to receive a £22.6bn cash injection over two years, the chancellor has announced, in what she dubbed the biggest spending increase outside Covid since 2010.

But health experts said patients may not feel the impact, as much of the increase would be absorbed by pay rises and higher care costs.