Simon Stevens has rightly set out the stark implications of failing to give the NHS the funding it needs – Jonathan Ashworth

Jonathan
Ashworth, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, responding to NHS England Chief Executive Simon
Stevens’ speech to the NHS Providers Conference, said:

“Simon
Stevens has rightly set out in the clearest terms the stark implications of
failing to give the NHS the funding it needs on the eve of its 70^th
anniversary.

“Unless the
Chancellor comes forward with an urgent and sustainable funding package,
waiting lists will climb further to 5 million, and the 18 week target will
potentially be permanently abandoned. Hospitals will fail to meet ambitions on
staff retention and recruitment, while mental health services and cancer
services will deteriorate.

“Theresa
May simply cannot carry on ignoring the dismal consequences for patient care of
refusing to properly fund the NHS. 

“Theresa
May and Philip Hammond must now take these heavyweight warnings seriously and
in the upcoming Budget finally provide the investment our NHS now desperately
needs.”