The Spring Budget has been met with concern from the health and social care sector, which has labelled it “worrying” and “unsustainable” due to the absence of new funding for the NHS or social care. Instead, Chancellor Rachel Reeves prioritised £4.8 billion in welfare cuts, a £2 billion investment in social and affordable housing, and reductions in departmental budgets.
The worry of the social care sector is not unfounded as an accompanying report from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) outlines the potential impact on health and social care. The analysis shows that projected revenue spending for the sector in 2024/25 has risen from an estimated £190.1 billion in October 2024 to £193.3 billion—a real-terms increase of 4.7%, surpassing the previous 3.8% forecast. However, for 2025/26, the real-terms increase has been downgraded from 3% to 1.8%, signalling tighter financial constraints ahead.
Amidst these concerns, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has pledged that social care funding will rise, though he did not provide specifics. He indicated that the government's long-term plans for social care would become clearer with the release of the NHS ten-year health plan.
Meanwhile, the government has also claimed that an additional £900 million will be allocated to councils in England over the next year to support adult and children’s social care, according to the BBC.
While promises of support for the health and social care sector continue to trickle in, patients are left wondering when—if ever—they’ll see real change. In the meantime, many have taken matters into their own hands. Those who can afford it are turning to private practice, while a growing number are opting for India’s swift, efficient, and far more affordable medical care. It seems “help is on the way”, just not from where the government intended.
Struggling with NHS, patients turn to private and overseas care
Community members shared their experiences with the NHS with Asian Voice, painting a stark picture of a healthcare system that many no longer find reliable. Their accounts reveal a troubling reality—one where patients are forced to navigate endless bureaucratic hurdles, endure months-long waits for appointments, or seek alternative solutions just to access basic care.
Speaking to Asian Voice, a South Indian couple living in East London shared their frustration with the NHS. They moved to the UK in 2019 to study and later secured jobs and visa sponsorship.
The wife, who requested anonymity, shared that she weighed 68 kg when she arrived in London but is now over 100 kg due to hormonal issues. Despite suffering from prolonged menstruation cycles, sometimes lasting a month, she has repeatedly sought help from her GP but received no assistance. At 35, she hopes to start a family but has not been referred to a fertility clinic despite multiple requests. “We lost hope in the NHS and came to India. Within days, we had all our tests done, and the reports were handed to us in three hours,” she said.
Her husband, an IT professional, joined the conversation, adding, “We have paid at least £1,500 in immigration health surcharge yet received subpar treatment. When my wife asked for a haemoglobin test, the GP suggested a blood sugar test instead. Her hormonal issues have been ignored. I have had shoulder pain for months, yet I still don’t have an appointment. How can we live like this? We decided to come to India, where the cost and quality of care are unmatched.”
Rupanjana, detailing her experience, said, “My husband broke his sesamoid bone in his left foot in August 2024. He went to his GP and despite repeated requests he was not transferred to the fracture clinic. Neither was he seen by a specialist. One day, out of excruciating pain he landed at the A&E. 5 hours later they offered him no Xray and no referral. Desperate he took himself to private clinic appointments and spent thousands for MRIs and X-rays. Finally we bought a ticket to India because we needed clarity on his prognosis. In India everything was sorted in 2 days’ time and at one fourth costs.
“When a referral came from the fracture clinic in the UK, that was 3 months after the initial accident. In fact the first appointment even got cancelled.
“Later at the follow up appointments, doctors-in-charge kept changing and they had no access to his background files now were they updated. My husband had to keep showing his private clinic reports to those NHS doctors, to receive his due treatments. He was finally sent for physiotherapy, but till today he has not received a MRI scan from NHS, which is basic and important to gauge the depth of the problem.”
No one should have to jump through hoops or suffer unnecessary complications just to lead a normal life or receive treatment for the simplest of health issues. And yet, for many, as demonstrated by the above accounts, that has become the unfortunate norm.
Delays are driving UK patients to Indian hospitals
While the frustrations of patients with the social care is glaringly obvious, one obscure result of a crumbling NHS is the growing popularity of medical tourism. The South Asian community in the country especially has the luxury of turning towards their home countries for treatment and India has emerged as a leader.
A community member Moloy Bhadra told Asian Voice, “I don't go to India just for medical reasons. But when I go to India I do medical treatments as well.
“Dental treatment has fallen apart in the UK. Every time I visit India I do dental checkup, scaling etc at a very low cost - possibly equivalent to £10. Last 7 years this has helped me to keep away from NHS expensive dental treatments.”
Doctors in India also share their opinion on this increased influx. Dr Bharat S Mody,the Chairman of Welcare Hospital noted that the trend of UK patients seeking treatment in India has grown significantly in recent years. “Delays in accessing treatment for chronic conditions like osteoarthritis of the knee and hip drive patients to India, where they receive international-standard care at a fraction of the cost. A total knee replacement in the UK costs up to £15,000, whereas in India, the same procedure with top-tier expertise and infrastructure is available for £3,000,” he explained.
Dr. Mody also observed a surprising trend at Welcare Vatsalya, the hospital’s elderly care facility, which has been receiving senior guests from the UK. “Elderly care costs in the UK have risen while quality has declined. A care home costs £1,500 per week in the UK, whereas a superior facility in India offers better care in a culturally familiar environment, saving families up to £60,000 per year,” he said.
Mission Health Multi Speciality Physiotherapy Centre in Ahmedabad has also seen this influx. Many come for Spine rehab, Knee rehab, AVN of the hip, Varicose Veins, and other joint-related conditions, as well as Advanced Neuro-Robotic Rehabilitation for paralytic patients. Dr Aalap Shah Founder & Director, Mission Health, attributes this influx to cutting-edge technology, faster recovery outcomes, and the ability to provide more frequent therapy sessions compared to the UK and other countries.
He also shared that, “UK patients often express frustration over long waiting times and limited rehabilitation options available to them.”
Dr. Keyur Buch, Consultant Orthopaedic Joint Replacement, Arthroscopy & Trauma Surgeon, runs Sushruta Healthy, an organisation that provides high-quality healthcare to patients in India and abroad. Previously a consultant orthopaedic surgeon in the NHS and BMI hospitals in the UK, Dr. Buch observes that while Indian doctors once advertised their services in the UK, patients now independently seek medical care in India.
“In the UK, people expect social care because they pay income tax and National Insurance. However, I find this notion problematic—family support should not be entirely replaced by government intervention. Yet, successive British governments have led people to believe the state can manage not only medical but also social and personal care needs.”
He adds, “Over 60 years, unrealistic expectations have taken root. No government can meet them without financial collapse, which would threaten even basic medical services.”
While UK looks into a societal shift, “India offers an alternative,” he says. “Patients receive surgeries with post-operative care, physiotherapy, and nutritional support, reducing the need for UK social care. Many appreciate Ahmedabad’s personal approach and continued online support.”
