in the country. With our doctors and nurses working tirelessly day in day out, this treasured institution
truly showcases the very best of Britain. That’s why I made it my immediate task to make sure frontline
services have the funding they need, to make a real difference to the lives of NHS staff, and above all, of
patients.
“Today I’m delivering on this promise with a £1.8bn cash injection – meaning more beds, new wards, and
extra life-saving equipment to ensure patients continue to receive world-class care. It’s time to face up to
this challenge and make sure the NHS receives the funds it needs, to continue being the best healthcare
service in the world.”
The additional funding is on top of the £33.9bn per year increase, in cash terms, that the NHS will receive
by 2023-24 under plans announced by Theresa May. But experts said the money was only a tiny proportion
of what was needed to upgrade dilapidated hospitals across the country.
Ben Gershlick, of the Health Foundation charity, said: “The government’s expected announcement of a
£1.8bn short-term funding boost for upgrades to 20 hospitals and NHS capital infrastructure projects is
welcome.
“But while the prime minister might be looking forward to cutting the ribbon at a new hospital ward, years
of underinvestment in the NHS’s infrastructure means this extra money risks being little more than a drop
in the ocean. Many hospitals, GP surgeries, and community and mental health facilities across England are
in major disrepair with the maintenance backlog in trusts alone now totalling over £6bn.”
A further £4bn a year was needed just to bring England in line with the average capital spending on
healthcare for developed nations, he said.
Nigel Edwards, chief executive of health think-tank The Nuffield Trust, said the funding was a fraction of
what it would cost to really upgrade 20 hospitals. “Nobody should expect shiny new hospitals in their towns
any time soon,” he said.
Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of the NHS, also appeared to suggest that more money was needed,
calling the £1.8bn cash injection a significant start to much needed capital investment.
Labour, meanwhile, claimed that the Conservatives had already announced 145 schemes promising NHS
upgrades but that only a fraction of the money had been delivered.
Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said: “Tory ministers have cut over £4bn from NHS
investment budgets with continued smash and grab raids, resulting in crumbling hospitals, faulty
equipment, sub-standard mental health facilities and the cancellation of cancer diagnosis appointments.
“When our health services continue to be cut and the NHS struggles with a shortage of 100,000 staff, this
announcement falls significantly short of what’s needed to provide patients with the quality, safe care they
deserve. The Tories can’t be trusted with our NHS.”
Mr Ashworth had earlier warned that the funding would pale in comparison to the “catastrophe” that would
hit the NHS if Mr Johnson followed through with his threat to deliver a no-deal Brexit.
He told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme: “I think to push us out of the European Union at the
end of October, beginning of November, on a no-deal basis as we are going into winter, which is always a
difficult time for the NHS, is the height of irresponsibility when we know a no-deal Brexit will be disastrous
for the NHS. It will put lives at risk. That is the gamble that Boris Johnson is taking this October,
November. He’s playing with people’s lives.”
It is unclear where the additional funding for the NHS will come from. Writing in The Sunday Times, Mr
Johnson said the investment was possible “thanks to this country’s strong economic performance”.