Frontline NHS funding will only rise with inflation and the Department of Health must make substantial cost savings under the government’s latest Budget. Savings of £4.35 billion must be found from healthcare spending and unnecessary prescribing is one area that will be under scrutiny. The Department of Health already has a £15-20bn “quality and productivity challenge” to meet, and the budget announced a number of specific areas the government believes are achievable to meet that challenge. They included saving an estimated £1.5bn by reducing unnecessary prescribing and referrals, more effective commissioning of services and improving mental health services. Health think...