Ed Miliband warns of NHS bombshell
Ed Miliband warns of a “financial bombshell” that means most English hospitals face having to cut staff, beds and services this year.
A “cash crisis made in Downing Street” is putting severe strain on the NHS and will mean major budget cuts in the coming months, the opposition leader has claimed.
Leaked documents indicated two-thirds of trusts are expected to be in the red by the close of the financial year, according to Labour.
Mr Miliband said: “Britain faces a clear choice on Thursday: between a Labour government that will put working people first – or a Tory government that will only ever work for the privileged few.
“There is no bigger choice at this election for everyone in our country than the future facing our National Health Service.
“Right now, our NHS is in grave danger because David Cameron has broken his promises on the NHS.”
Responding to Mr Miliband’s claims, a Conservative spokesman said: “NHS providers say hospital deficits have been caused partly by the decision to hire more staff to avoid a repeat of Mid Staffs and other hospital tragedies that happened under the last Labour government.
“Yet today, for the second election in a row, Labour is refusing to give the NHS the budget it is asking for, unlike the Conservatives, who have committed to the full £8bn.
“Without that support Labour are once again risking a repeat of the very tragedies that scarred the NHS when they were last in charge.”